The following videos demonstrates the 4th Korvai and the Charanam ‘Dha’.  For all the repeations of the Pallavi (Starting lines or thematic line of the song that is often repeated severel times), steps are done in accordance with the  swarams. The second video shows the first Charanam ‘da,,, ni da pa da’. They sound different from the Pallavi ( Sa,,,ni [...]

Shijith Nambiar and Parvathi Nambiar are one of the few leading dancing couples in Bharatanatyam. It was their training is kalakshetra that brought the two dancing souls together as partner’s in life. Now they share the stage together with their duet choreographies. During my phone conversation with him , he never made me feel that [...]

I have here worked on the Natesha Kautukam. This was the Kautukam that I learnt probably when I was 8 or 9. The steps are same almost in every style. I like the the Kalakriya series music for this Kautukam. Hence the demonstration is a blend of what I had learnt and Mrs Priyadarshiniji’s choreography.  [...]

Pushpanjali is an invocatory dance in Bharatanatyam.

Drishthi in sanskrit meaning “Vision”. In relation to our eyes it means “sight” or “to see”. The classification of these eye movements are based on how we move the eye balls. Infact we use each of them in our every day routine. Just a matter of identifying with their names. There are eight types of [...]

Head movements are also called Shirobheda. Shira or shirasa meaning ” Head” in sanskrit. The head  movements refer to the head positions, while expressing a particular bhava. There are Nine head movements. Sama : The head kept straight Udvahitam : Head Looking upwards Adhomukham : Looking Down Alolitam: Circular Movement of the head Dhutam: Right [...]

The word Alarippu means “a flowering bud.” It is an innovatory piece meaning it is performed before a dancer begins a whole performance. It is considered to be a warm up piece for the dancers. According to T. Balasraswati “Alarippu, which is based on rhythm alone, brings out the special charm of pure dance. The [...]

The word Korvai means to compile, join or thread together. Korvais are adavus when set to a particular Talam (Rhythm) and Kalam (speed) and usually concludes with a Theermanam. Dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai says “If we consider ‘Adavus’ as beads, ‘ Talam’  is the thread and ‘ Theermanam’ is the final knot we tie to finish [...]

Here is yet another variation to mandi adavu. This is done 100 percent in purna mandi. Dancer would first jump in purna mandi. Then jump and place the right/ left  knee on the floor. Such a posture, where one knee rests on the floor is called Parshvasuci. The hands are in Tripataka hasta held in Natyarambhe. [...]

Mandi in some Indian languages refers to area around the thigh and knee. In some instance we can refer it to a bent knee. Eg: Araimandi is where the knee is half bent. Muzumandi or poorna mandala is where the knee is fully bent. In mandi adavus we make use of the Muzumadi position often. [...]