Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam is an Indian Classical Dance form and possibly India's oldest and the mother of many other Indian classical dance forms.

The name was derived by joining two words, ‘Bharata’ and Natyam’, where ‘Natyam in Sanskrit means dance and ‘Bharata’ is a mnemonic comprising ‘bha’, ‘ra’ and ‘ta’, which respectively means ‘bhava’ that is emotion and feelings; ‘raga’ that is melody; and ‘tala’ that is rhythm. Thus, traditionally the word refers to a dance form where bhava, raga and tala are expressed.

The earliest mention of this dance form is found in one of the five great epics of Tamil Literature, ‘Silappatikaram’, dating back to the 2nd century CE. The Shiva temple of Kanchipuram is decorated with carvings dating from the 6th to 9th centuries CE. The eastern gopuram of the 12th century Thillai Natarajar Temple, Chidambaram, of Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Lord Shiva, bears sculptures depicting 108 poses of Bharatanatyam, referred to as karanas in ‘Natya Shastra’, that are intricately carved in small rectangular panels. Another notable sculpture can be seen in Cave 1 of Karnataka’s Badami cave temples, dating back to the 7th century, where a 5 feet tall sculpture of Lord Shiva is depicted as Nataraja doing the Tandava dance. The 18 arms of the Shiva sculpture express mudras or hand gestures that are part of this dance form.

Bharata Muni’s Sanskrit text on the performing arts called ‘Natya Shastra’ is the most comprehensive text available on this dance form dating from 200 BCE to 200 CE. It is said that Lord Brahma revealed Bharatanatyam to the sage Bharata who then encoded this holy dance form in Natya Shastra.

The repertoire of this performance art is categorised into three brackets: ' Nritta’, ‘Nritya’ and ‘Natya’.

Nritta is the technical aspects of the dance, used to build intricate combinations and rhythmic patterns that do not convey any specific meaning; Nritya, or expressional dance, using facial expressions, highly stylised gestures, postures and body language to describe any mood; and Natya, is the dramatic storytelling.

Devadasis performed Bharatanatyam only in temples, with trained dancers dedicated to the divine. This tradition dates back to the period between 300 BCE to 300 CE.

The four Nattuvanars, namely Ponaiyah, Vadivelu, Sivanandam and Chinnaiya, who are renowned as Tanjaore Bandhu and who thrived in the Durbar of Maratha ruler, Sarfoji-II from 1798 to 1832, shaped up the modern day Bharatanatyam.

With the advent of British Colonial Rule in the 18th Century, Christian missionaries and British officials banned the dance form from being performed in temples.

However, as the Indian freedom movement progressed steadily during the early 20th century, an effort to revive Indian culture and tradition seethed with excitement among Indians. Eminent Bharatanatyam dancers like Arundale and Balasaraswati expanded the dance form out of temples and established it as a mainstream dance form as we see it today.

Today there are five styles of Bharatanatyam: Pandanallur Style, Vazhuvoor Style, Kalakshetra Style, Melattur Style, and Kalamandalam Styles.

During the performance, the Bharatnatyam dancer is accompanied by a nattuvanar (or taladhari), a vocalist who generally conducts the whole performance, which the guru often executes. The person can also play the cymbals or any other instrument. The music associated with Bharatanatyam is in South India’s Carnatic style, and the instruments played comprise cymbals, the flute, nadaswaram, mridangam and veena. The verses recited during the performance are in Sanskrit, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu.

https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-dance/classical/bharatnatyam.html

Benefits Of Bharatanatyam

Physical Fitness: Bharatanatyam involves intricate footwork, complex body movements, and graceful postures, which provide an excellent form of physical exercise that improves flexibility, balance, stamina, and overall body coordination, including correct body alignment and posture.
Emotional Expression: Bharatanatyam is a highly expressive dance form that allows dancers to convey a wide range of emotions through facial expressions and hand gestures (mudras). This helps in developing emotional intelligence and communication skills.
Stress Relief: The rhythmic movements and the connection between the body and music can help reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Cognitive Development: Learning Bharatanatyam's intricate sequences and rhythms involves memorisation and cognitive skills. Practising these sequences can improve memory, focus, and cognitive abilities. This helps develop self-confidence and self-esteem.
Cultural Connection: Bharatanatyam is deeply rooted in Indian culture and history. Practising this dance form provides a profound connection to the rich cultural heritage of India.
Creativity and Artistic Expression: Dancers often have the opportunity to interpret and present stories uniquely, adding their personal touch to the art form.
Social Interaction: Joining a dance class or a dance group allows individuals to meet like-minded people and build social connections, fostering community and belonging.
Discipline and Patience: Learning Bharatanatyam requires discipline, dedication, and patience. Practising regularly and working on perfecting movements instils discipline and patience in dancers.

Early age practice of Bharatanatyam is not just about training children to become professional dancers. It instils valuable life skills, cultural awareness, and emotional development, making it a well-rounded and enriching experience for young learners.