BHARATANATYAM DANCE BASIC THEORY
‘bhava’ (emotion) ‘raga (melody), ‘taala’ (rhythm) Natyam’ (dance) Bharatanatyam is one of the 7 Classical dance styles in India and belongs to theSouth Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In the past it was known by names “Desiattam” or“Sadir” and was practiced and performed in the temples by a class of dancers known as the Devadasis. It was a part of the religious rituals and has a long and reach past.The kings and the princely courts patronized the temples, as well as the varioustraditions sustaining the dance form. Well known ‘Thanjavoor Brothers’, Ponnayya, Chinnayya, Sivanandam and Vativelu systematically regularized the modern Bharatanatyam. Adavus and Margam ,as we practice today, were analyzed, named and grouped together by these talented musicians in early 19th century.The main features of Bharatanatyam are symmetrical movements that are mostly executed either in straight lines or triangles and rhythmical patterns or the beats that dancer produces by means of different footwork follo...