History of Bharatanatyam
Today I would like to give a brief history on how the beautiful dance form came into existence. This classical dance form originated from the state of Tamil Nadu. It has its inspirations from the sculptures of the ancient temple of Chidambaram located near Pondicherry (now Puducherry). Bharatanatyam, as the name depicts is the combination of:
BHA- Bhava (Expression), RA- Raga (Music) and TA- Tala (Rhythm)
Photo Credit: Panache
Traditionally the dance was performed by Devadasis (community of temple dancers) in the ancient temples. The Devadasis were women who dedicated their lives to serving the temple deity as dancers and musicians and their performances were an inherent part of the elaborate temple and court rituals.
Somewhere around the 1930’s some surviving Devadasis such as the legendary Balasaraswati were called for stage performances by the elite educated Class. Thus Rukmini Devi was the first ever educated elite to learn this dance form under the guidance of Balasaraswati.
The present form of Bharatanatyam as we know it today has been codified and documented by four brothers Chinnayya, Ponnayya, Vadivelu and Sivanandam in the early 19th century. They are also famously known as the Tanjore Quartret. Their dance compositions form the bulk of the Bharatanatyam practiced today.
Today this is one of the popularly practiced dance forms in India. I feel that if any body is interested in the art of dance, one must actually give a thought to learning any of the classical dance forms of India. Such dances are more of DEVOTION, WORSHIP, DISCIPLINE, is SOFT and sometimes even BLISS. It is more introvert than extrovert. The younger generation of today is being continuously exposed to the hip hop by the media. I feel more exposure to classical dance forms would help them understand the very essence of DANCE.
For more information, please visit the Bharatanatyam page on Wikipedia.
Related posts:
- Famous Bharatanatyam Dancers
- The Basics Of Bharatanatyam (3N)
- Bharatanatyam Mudras (Hand Gestures)
- First Adavu in Bharatanatyam – Tatta Adavu
- Tatta Adavu in Bharatanatyam
Tags: Adavu · Bharatanatyam · Bharatnatyam · Bhava · class · Classes · Dance · Devadasi · History · Learning · lessons · online · Raga · Tala
24 responses so far ↓
hi… this was informative …thanks
Hi, I was wondering whether or not Bharatanatyam can be called a fire dance, like it says is Wikipedia. When I watch other classical Indian dances, like Odissi or Mohiniattam especially, I do get that feeling for Bharatanatyam because it’s more stiff and flickering. Could you give me your professional thoughts as a Bharatanatyam dancer?
Hey Amelia, Bharatanatyam is known for it geometric lines in the movements. Movements finishes in straight lines and angles. It has both the tandava (vigour) and the lasya (soft)aspects. Where as mohiniattom and oddisi is more into lasya with rounded movements. For me all of them are very beautiful and challenging in their own way. It is meaningless to compare these dance forms.
Anjali,
my daughter has been learning bharatnatyam for 6 years now and her teacher is going to “quiz” them on their adauvs, just to see how much they remember. My daughter doesn’t remeber a lot of the earlier ones like the nattadauvs, 5-8 and the sarukal adavus. Do you think you could help some way through this blog? Thanks! By the way, you’re doing a wonderful job with the site, it is great for dance awarness!
Hi Surya,
Any way let her go through the quiz and she would come to what she has forgotten. Let me know how can I help you. Thanks a lot for the kind words.
respected madam,
mam, when i was 9th standard.my master taught the tatta adavu and naatadavu 1,2,3, only after that he married.so he could not able to come to my school.after i would like to learn bharatantym but because of education i cant able to continue and also my age is 18 and also i dont know basic steps .now i saw your video in youtube so i am happy i can learn bharatantym .my humble request is may i call you as my master
now i am collage second year student
Hello Bharathi, I am glad to know you are learning from this site. Thanks a lot.
than k u for giving information about history of bharathanatyam
wow
hi…..ive been learning bharatanatyam since i was 4 years old……now i have a very good and famous teacher shrimati jayalaxmi eshwar teaching me and it is good to know people are interested in this dance form.It is really good of you to help people know more about this national classical dance form
its really uncommendable ……….excellent idea to provide a virtual class on the complex art of bhrathanatya… …its never mere informative but also inoperative, resourceful and agood teacher…..
in this modern technological era,even though it cannot provide the full benifit of gurusishya method but can do its duty up to its zenith….thanks for all who behind the idea….
-akshai.s
Akshai, thanks for your kind words. In fact we have regular individual sessions where I conduct online personal classes with my students. So the guru shishya relationship is still there. Glad that you like it. Your words will keep me motivated.
hi… i would like to know more about 7 thandav of shiva in detail.
It would be better if more detailing could be provided. those who are in the bharathanatyam field ie students or teachers could use some high level information
Hello, I am researching Bharatanatyam for my Dance IB project, and I was wondering if you could point me towards some good books or sources I could use to better my understanding of this amazing dance. It would be very helpful for me!
Thank you,
Gabrielle
Dear Gabrielle, books like Laghubharatam, abhinaya darpanam by P.chandrashekhar and manmohans ghosh’s translation of some dance books might help. Try vedambooks.com.
Thank you for the help! I was also wondering if you could give me your opinions as a bharatanatyam dancer if the Indian style of dance is in any way similar to contemporary style of dancing. Thank you,
Gabrielle
@Gabrielle: btw, a useful source might also be to take advanced courses like
“History, Bharatanatyam and Western Classical music (Keyboard)”
or similar ? This one is offered at
http://sandesha.org/index.htm
Thank You so much for all your help! This website and the books you listed to me were great sources!
Thanks again,
Gabrielle
P.S. Do you think american contemporary style is anything similar to Bharatanatyam?
Wow
thanks 4 this valuable information.
That is our INDIA.
INCREDIBLE INDIA
this piece of imfo ha really helped me and my friends with their grade exam !!!!!
THANKS A LOT!!!!!
Hi Ma’am,
i am Sangeetha Suresh. I am living in Bahrain. Here I am not going for any special dance class. I am studying what all you have instructed in videos. So seeing your videos i have a question; While dancing where we have to look?
@Sangeetha, while practicing adavus look into your hands.