Resources
Bharatanatyam Related sites
The site from Chidambaram Dance academy has some good content on Adavus, Gestures & Costume. Check them out!
[Adavus]
[Hand Gestures]
[Movements]
[Costumes]
A website founded by Bharatanatyam exponent Anita Ratnam brings the world of Indian dancers under one shelter. [Narthaki- A gateway to the world of dance]
A great innovative way to show Adavu with pencil figures. This site shows Thatta adavu basics for new learners.
[Thatta Adavu Animation]
A Select List of Books on Bharatanatyam.
[Books on Bharatanatyam]
A great write up on famous classical Indian dancers including Bharatanatyam dancers at lifestyle-india.
[Great Dancers of India]
A good writeup that gives an overview of Bharatanatyam from Rambling with Bellur.
[A for Arangetram, B for Bharatanatyam…]
A site that provides Bharatanatyam lessons in the Vazavoor style by Sangeeta Shyam and Santosh
[Online Bharathanatyam Academy]
Here a very informative article on Bhava and Rasa in dance by Gyanendrabhajpai
[Gyanendrabajpai’s Weblog. ]
Online Carnatic Music lessons imparted by Bhavadhaarini Anantaraman. For more details visit her at bhavadhaarini.com
Indian Heritage a site that provides information on topics related to Indian culture like dance, music, shlokams, Architecture, painting, sculpture, Arts and craft.
Mr GS Rajan have worked on an Exhaustive Online Art Directory called ArtIndia.net in providing relevant information on all kinds of Indian art. This site gives details of the artists, Gurus and their address to contact.
Raaga Rasika is a site which provides series of Podcasts on carnatic music delivered by an eminent vocalist Vidya Subramanian. The site would help the novice and the rasikaas understand the intricate nuances of carnatic music.
Shivakumar Kalyanaraman’s Archives is an excellent resource on carnatic music which has the notation, meanings and lyrics of several kirthis, varnams and geethams.
Carnatic India.com provides resources on carnatic music, online lessons, dance and culture.
Bharatanatyam: Dancing for Gods by Preeti Vasudevan is an interactive multimedia website dedicated to Bharatanatyam.
Other References
Indusladies.com-A global online community for Indian ladies. Indian ladies living around the world come here to discuss various topics, engage in a dialogue, ask questions, get help, share tips and along the way build authentic and enduring friendships.
A Website dedicated to promoting various Art forms. It runs weekly online talent contests for the Desi community. They say “Use DynamycDesi to encourage your kids to develop their talents and get identified as The Talent of the week”.
[DynamicDesi. ]
Garamchai.com aims to provide everything Indians living in the United States may need to maintain their lifestyle outside of India. This site is a complete resource listing of 250 temples,200 restaurants,50 online shops and 300 bazaars. With the large amounts of information, the site is well organized dividing most listings into state categories.
Krishna.com aims at providing info on Bhagavat-Gita, meditation and yoga. The site displays live webcast of krishna temples around the world.
Here is a site called Cyberkerala that helps all the artist to design, develop and launch their own website and get known in the world of artists. They also provide for the maintenance and promotion the site.


100 responses so far ↓
that’s a nice compilation of Bharata Natyam e-resources. Thanks!
Hi Bansuri…….nice name. I thank you for the compliment.
very informative posts. lovely blog.
thanks for linking.
wish you all success.
regards
rk
There is not bad information about bhedams and hand gestures in pdf-format
http://web.mit.edu/natya/www/danceStyles/Bhedams.pdf
And here is a good article about Bharatanatyam and about gesture’s meanings:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Shrine/3155/bnatyam.html
My best wishes for u, keep it up.
papa.
Thanks for your Wishes, Papa.
Hi Anjali,
I am from Auckland and I find this site very useful. really good work. Just one question. my daughter has just started learning bharatanatyam but finds it difficult to keep her back straight. What can she do (other than practice) to get this right?
cheers
Hi Radha, ask your daughter to stand before the mirror and correct herself. You can guide her with the right posture as per the video given. It should be brought to her notice every time she bends forward. Also ask her to do Padmasana daily which involves keeping the back straight. Right practice makes one perfect. Also perfection of postures need atleast a year of practice. Its called the Angashudhi. So donot worry and let her enjoy her lessons. Radha, Thanks a lot for your kind words.
hi anjali,
I have just started to learn barathanatyam at the age of 37, I find it really interesting and your website really help me to practice better. Thanks and good luck.
Hi Jayanthi…Its nice to know that you have started learning dance. You are an inspiration to all those who hesitate to start just because of their age. Do share with us your experience while learning so that others are motivated. I would like to add your view in my FAQ page that will be posted soon. And Thanks a lot for your Kind words.
hi…ur site is fantastic…..i hav learned dance but just for 1 year….after a long gap i wud like to take it up again….can u just list out the order in which we hav to learn…..like how the sequence is….? thankyou once again….
anjali this is one of the very good work that u have done
i wud really appreciate u for this beautiful work
thankyou
and best wishes
sandhya
WOW…what an informative site…..Keep it up and God bless!
Hi Anjali,
Do not know if you remember our recent chat about my daughter Anusha (Bangalore). I would like to share with you that my daughter came first with 83 marks in her Bharatanatyam examination. Thank you for your wishes to her.
Best regards,
Ajith Kumar
Hi Anjali,
Came to know about your site thru Orkut. It is so helpful for a Bharatanatyam learner!I started learning Bharatanatyam in my 30s. Your movements are very graceful. My Guru is from Srilanka and we are settled in UK. I find lots of differences in adavus like my guru taught only 8 natta adavus. I am wondering why there are lots of variations.
Your Natta adavu videos are really great. Could you please add other adavus videos as well like Thai ha thaihi etc.
My daughter is planning to take her grade 1 exam in UK. Her guru is also from Srilanka and both our Gurus taught in the same way. We have a new guru now who wa trained in Chennai and her style is different in all the adavus. So I am wondering if the number of steps in the adavus are different in various places, how it will affect my daughter when she takes her exams.
What is authentic in the number of steps in various adavus.
Looking forward to hear from you.
Thanks,
Raymol
Hi Raymol, thanks for the appreciation. You are an inspiration to all those who hesitate to start late. All the best. Also being in UK your interest to learn this art is so strong. Hats off to your efforts. I also wish your daughter lots of luck for her life ahead. We had such a discussion earlier. Read the comments of this link. http://onlinebharatanatyam.com/2007/08/22/tatta-adavu-sixth-step/link.
I repeat…. donot worry about differences. Follow the guru. Such references should be an added learning to you. At a higher level such differences are negligible.
A excellent and very informative website good work congrats and thank you
Namaskar Suryaji, its an honor to receive such an encouraging word from a versatile dancer like you. Thanks a lot for visiting and do add in your valuable suggestions on improvement.
Anjali,
I love your site. It seems to be very helpful for learning the basics. I am 19 years old and want to learn Bharatanatyam very much. I learned for about 6 months when I was 15 but was not dedicated enough and stopped. But now I want to learn and wanted to know if you have any advice on learning at this age. How fast do you think I can progress assuming I am a fast learner? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and keep up the ogod work on your website.
Pooja
Hi Pooja, thanks for visiting and for your kind words. Coming to your question, see it should not take more than 3-4 years to learn this art assuming that you are a fast learner. For this it is advisable to join schools like Kalakshetra, Kalamandalam or Nalanda who can offer 3yrs Diploma. I donot know about the private schools do inquire about them.
Hi Anjali,
Good site. Quite informative. Apart from asamyuta and samyuta hastas, do you also have Vinayoga slokas’ mudras on your video? Am keen on going through that also. Thanks and Regards
Hi Anjali,
Excellent site, excellent lessons for parents, my daughter is learning bharatnatyam, she practices at home but now i can rectify her mistakes. what is next adavus ?? Thanks
Thanks a lot Jigisha. I wish good luck to your daughter. May she excel in every aspect of her life. The next adavu will be Tatti Metti Adavu .
i love bharatnatyam. but i never goat any oppurtunity to learn. am doing a litereture (theoritical) project on it for my college. can you please furnish me with some good information.Thanking u in anticipation……
would love to be your friend!!!!!!!!! friends????????
Anjali,
Your website is really good. I want to commend you on the work that you are doing.
I wanted to know, can you send me some links or names of DVD’s, VCD’s of the tanjore style of bharatanatyam.
Hi anjali,
I am from Pune…I am 34..haven’t found a teacher in Pune..I and my daughters would like to learnIf u have any information on the teachers in Pune please would u give it to me…
I have learnt dance almost 11 years but ne’er appeared for any exam…I would like to continue….
Hey Anjali
I just read Vidya’s ? & she is from my hometown so couldnt stop my self from sharing my Guru’s contact no with her if you dont mind
She is toooooooooooo good her name is Mrs Shumita Mahajan- cell no 9890139990
She is no 1 in Pune , very tallented & graceful dancer of Kalakshetra gharana.
Good luck with your search & h ope you will get success.
Thanks Anjali
Hi Anjali,
Your site is really awesome. I had learnt bharatanatyam for three years and then stopped. I would like to continue. Can you please suggest me some good institutes in Bangalore. And also since I am working, i would be able to attend classes only during week ends. Can you please tell me any institute which teaches during week ends and also for people like me who had learnt for some years and then stopped.
Good luck for you efforts in creating this informative website.
hi anjali,
I am from anantapur… i am 24.. i want 2 learn bharatanatyam from my child hood but i didnt get any oppurtunity till now.. can u give information about the schools and couses in Andhra pradesh
There is this directory of Bharata Natyam dancers, gurus and institutions available at http://www.artindia.net Perhaps you could place a link to ART INDIA from your blog
Hello Mr Rajan, Thank you for visiting the site. I have your website already in my resources.
Dear,
great site, great dance and great resources. Thank you.
I hope I will be able to learn a bit of this wonderful dance.
Greetings
Michelle, Thanks a lot. And wish you good luck.
Excellent work mam,keep it up.This will surely be a great help for Bharatanatyam students ,like me
Thanks!!!!
Hi Anjali,
I am having trouble with the atamis. I cannot get to do them as gracefully as some of the dancers do – on youtube videos. Any hints on how to master this? Thanks
Hey Vaishnavi, Attamis happen when you dance effortlessly. They are not taught but discoverd when you mature as a dancer.
Is it true that baratha natyan originated in East India?.
hi Anjali
The way you teach the steps are very good. I could learn easily. Can you please let me know, Is there any adavu called “Periya Adavu”?
Yes there is Periya adavu. Periya literally means Big, so these steps are used to cover greater distance on the stage. These steps are very similar to the Natta adavu eleventh variation.
Hi Anjali,
Your work in this website is simply amazing. Learned a lot from your website.
Quick question for you:
What is the difference between Makuda Adavu and Teermana Adavu? I thought Makuda Adavu is used to conclude or finish a performance. Teermana word sound the same meaning.
Thanks
Hey Balaji, Thank you. According to my understanding Makuda and Teermanam are the same. But if there are any subtle differences, I am unaware.
hi Anjali..I am keen interested to learn bharatnatyam…but couldnt find any guru based in Manchester, UK. Can you please suggest something to me…If theres any other option i can learn bharatnatyam.
Hi Preet refer narthaki.com or artindia.net for address of teachers. Meanwhile I have also mailed you with the details of my online classes. Thanks
hi anjali!!! u did a great job. i find this sie very helpful. i have one question.
i am 21 yrs old and i am chubby too. can i start to learn bharatanatyam at this time? will i get the flexiblity in my body. basically i am a medium level dancer.
Please can you guide me where to find the bharatanatyam song with lyric written. Eg – Alaripu, Pushpanjali etc….
please could you email this time.By the way what hand movements are used in the paka adavu in grade 3. Need to know before the 10 th June 2009
Thanks xx
p.s keep up the good work
hi im 29 years old…can i learn bharata natyam now…or is thr any age limit for it…plz reply…
hi swapna there isnt any age limit u can learn it any time
why do u all say its a very good site i say its a good site thats all.it does not even tell about kalakshetra style.its a normal site.
very informative, website, alot of efforts put in, your reference sites are very useful, thanks for dedicating your time ,God bless you.
Very informative website. Could you please explain what is Vrutam in Bharatanatyam?
Thanks
-Shruti
hii anjali!!
)
i have done a little bharatanatyam but because of my dad’s transfer in Hong Kong, i cpuld not continue which was my dad’s dream.
I am glad that i found this website and learn bharatanatyam.
I also wanted to know how can i contact you
please reply.
thank you!!! wish yuo success!!!
Hi Anjali, your site’s a great resource for people like me .. first timers, not know much, want to know.. great introduction.. got to know much about the dance form.. thanks, keep up the good work.
palli hand gesture is not opening…………………
Hi Anjali,
I am expected to write a short note on Viniyogas, for my theory exam on B’Natyam. Where can I find some notes on this? Even though your lessons use this word, it is not defined anywhere. Can you please help me?
Thanks.
Yamini
Yamini, The term viniyoga in ancient Sanskrit means “appropriate application” or “ways to employ”. Now there could be a viniyoga for any body of knowledge, example viniyoga for reading, viniyoga for swimming or cooking. In the context of bharatanatyam there are viniyogas for hand gestures, legs positions, neck movements etc. What it means is how a Mudra or position is used or applied to convey or express a particular idea.
hi,could u please help me bring the book for bharatnatyam by madhusudan patel
I am not aware of this book, Shraddha. may be some one should help you here.
Its just wonderful…!! Even i have learnt bharatanatyam for 14yrs, your link made me revise myself. Keep going..good luck Anjali.
hi,i’m from Srilanka.ihave learnt dance for 8years . i’ve always had a passion to learn dance but i hav never succeded .i learnt dance only till keerthanam and by da time i was about to learn thilana i had to stop going for classes due to my 10th public examinations.now i hav finished my +2 in india and i’m about to come back to india to my higher studies .is there any possibilities for me to learn barathanatyam even after this?…your network is a very good. all the very best for your success…
@thivya, Yes being is India you have better chances of finding a teacher locally. You ca still continue learning. All the best. And thank you.
Hi Anjali madam, your site’s a great resource for people like me .. first timers, not know much, want to know.. great introduction.. got to know much about the dance form.. thanks, keep up the good work.
regards,
punam
Hi Anjali,
Great work and great reference material for learning kids.
I have recently come across “Kandi” in Bharatanatyam. Could you please shed some light on this topic?
thanks
@jai, if you can mention under what circumstances you came across this term, will try to look up. Thanks
hi anjali
i found this page extremely helpful, thanking you for that. i just want a leeetle more help….??? can u please refer some page where i can find video/pictures for the tripataka hasta viniyoga??? im waiting eagerly for ur rply
thanks
@sudeshna, Will let you you know if I come across such material. But you have many artists who have their cd’s relating to hasta viniyoga. One is hasta prayoga by jotsana menon and second by jayalaksmi eshwar. Try them out.thanks
hai am swarnapriya am 20 years old i want to learn barathanatyam but am a collage going person shall i learn dance now am a beginner how long will it take to starters to learn starting dance b4 item please suggest me how can insist my self
@Swarna, Adavus will take 6 month to year, depending on the frequency of the classes.
Hi,
I’m gonna sit my grade 1 in a few months time and i need to practice but i find it quite difficult to remember the bols, steps and which adavus are which. What can i do to help me?
Thanks
@RShah, donot worry about exams, just keep practicing and refining your movements.
Hi Anjali,
I want links about tanjore style of bharatanatyam, its adavus . Any DVD’s on tanjore style adavus available?
Anjali Aunty,
I am a 22 year old boy and I am interested in learning Bharatanatyam, for many good reasons. My legs a very flexible as I do Taekwondo. Learning online, I am sure to learn much quicker. For the purpose of Arangetram, I would have to practice with a dance teacher at some point.
The question is, if I advance very quickly by learning online, would any dance teacher accept me for the level I am at, or would they make me start from the beginning? As a teacher what is your opinion? Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
hai anjali
a very fine website. its helping me a load in detail. a very good job. helping people is a generous work. keep it up, god wil surly bless you for this. and one more thing, could you please tell me if you have uploaded pushpanjali n jathiswara videos? if yes could you please guide me about it?
Uhm.. HI! Well, I am here to ask help. I have a perfomance on 20th of november and have to show them on 11 of november and I still dont know what to dance. I need to do a welcome dance so maybe I thought Pushpanjali would be good but I cant get the audio of it anywhere. It would be great if you could record it and send it if you could. I need the tham tham tham thamkitathaka thathodanga thaku tham OR thathodaga tham tham tham tham tham thim thim thim thim thagadodangu thaku tha thei.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for the efforts to make the art of bharatanatyam through the internet. I also visited your youtube posting too.
Great effort.
Thank you so much
Shaji
Jakarta
Hi, I am doing my grade 3 exam in March. Could you tell me what to learn in theory and praticle. thanks
anjali aunt i like your dance.
hi anjali anut,
i like your dance because it is so fun.
i like to see you.
my sister is so happy.i have read the other childrens comments it is so cool read it aunt.
with love
vismaya+akshaya
Hi!
Nice Website
Can you please upload some vineyoga videos on your website?
Thank you very much!
im sri lankan traditional dancer. and im relay like baratha natyam, now. becoz , now it is my life…….. and who want to learn baratha natyam, this web is very helpful for that. i wish to success full future plans……………….. thnak you very much…
Guru brhammaa,
Guru Vishnu,
Guru Deawoo Maheash warahaa….
Guru shak shath para brahamaa,
Dass meai shrii Gurawee namak haa,….
can you please do me a favour? if you leanred all the hand gestures in sanskrit and have the meanings can you please send them to me?
I am learning Bharatnatyam it’s very different. why ? please can you tell I want to know……………………..My sister had learnt this Bharatnatyam. Your site is nice ma’am.
nice to know these things
congratulations for your site,I need information on the karanas in that time of the submission are displayed?.Thanks
I find your website very useful. Please let me know where can I get CD for the dance music.
Thank you.
Nimisha
Dear Anjali,
You are doing a great job and I love your dedication for the dance form. I recently watched your “Thaye Yashoda” performance where you did not compromise even a bit on the tradition but at the same time choreographed it so excellently that I had tears in my eyes ( at the beginning, where you depicted the story of Krishna(provided a gist) by the time the music ended, no one could have imagined it better than you).
I also have a question for you. I’m 31 years old and reside in Atlanta. I have never learned this dance form or any other but am interested in starting to learn straight from a teacher. I know you offer online classes, but at this stage, can you suggest me a good guru from Atlanta. I’m very much confident, whoever you would point me to would be really good. As I’m a novice, I do not want to make a wrong choice at this late age. Hope you understand.
Thank you very much, keep up all the good work!
Lalitha
Hi Anjali,
I am 31 years old and started learning Bharatanatyam since July 2011 from a Dace Academy at MumbaiI have completed Tatta adavu, Natta Adavu, Kudittametta adavau, visharu adavu, sarikal adavu, 5 Adavus more are reamianing I think. Can I start Alarippu within 3 months time. Is there any exam which needs to be given before starting alarippu
@Sindhu, starting Allarippu is usually after all the adavus. Your teacher may decide what to start .
@lalitha, thank you . Glad you like the performance.. I have mailed you with some address.
can you please list the aboothra hasta like pramba and e.t.c
Hello ! Wonderful website.I want to learn bharatanatyam now at the age of 24. Is it too late?
Dharinee..not late at all.
Dear Anjali,
My daughter is just completed 3ys, can she started Bharat Natyam? please tell me
Hi Anjali,
What a wonderful idea to put up videos of dance lessons! And in such a captivating manner! You dance very gracefully and your teaching manner makes it seem like you are talking directly one on one with the viewer. Your simple colorful dress in a monochromatic setting enhances the visual so much more.
I learnt Bharatnatyam as a kid for 6-7 years and then completely lost touch with it for many years. Today after all those years for the first time I searched for dance lessons and came across your wonderful video and website. It brought back memories that I thought had long been forgotten. Could not pass by without commending your wonderful work. Cheers!
@Subha, Thank you very much. If the blog had triggered the dormant passion in you, It feels fulfilling. Good luck!!
a great appreciation for your effort. plus teaching bharatanatyam through online.
but i like to know from where we can download songs of alarippu, jathiswaram, shabdam, etc
it would be so grateful if you reply for this mail
Its very informative..thank you so much..
thank youu so much for this. i have been learning bharathanatyam for 4 years now and this is helping me alot to keep in time and remember the steps
Hi, Thanks a lot for the great work which is being put up by you ma’m. I would request you to update a calssical dance video for the song Muddugare yashoda….in this website . I am very much interested to learn that song. I hope for quick reply.
Thankyou.
Hello, You are such a great teacher and keep up the good work
. Just want to make an enquiry about the online classes. May I ask how does it work and in terms of fees? Thank you !