About Bharatanatyam

 Bharatanatya is a major form of Indian classical dance that originated in Modern day region of Tamil Nadu. Natya Shastra by Bharata Muni and "Abhinaya Darpana" by Nandikeshvara are considered to be the original sources of Bharatanatyam (an Indian classical dance form). The dance form is also briefly mentioned in Kannada text Manasolalla written by Someshwara III. It has flourished in the temples and courts of southern India since ancient times.It is one of eight widely recognized Indian classical dance forms (the others being Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Manipuri and Sattriya) and it expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas, particularly of Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism.A description of Bharatanatyam from 2nd century CE can be found in the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram, while temple sculptures of the 6th to 9th century CE suggest it was a highly refined performance art by the mid-1st millennium CE.[6][7] Bharatanatyam is the oldest classical dance tradition in India.[8] The dance form was prevalent in ancient Tamil Nadu, and several books have codified it, such as the Natya Shastra[4] by Bharat muni(Sanskrit:भरत मुनि). Bharatanatyam is the state dance form of Tamil Nadu.

A Bharatanatyam dancer

                




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The Arangetram

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 History of Bharatanatyam Bharatanatyam remained exclusive to Hindu temples through the 19th century. It was banned by the colonial British government in 1910, but the Indian community protested against the ban and expanded its performance outside temples in the 20th century. Modern stage productions of Bharatanatyam has been spread out and popular throughout India that has been done in different ways and have incorporated technical performances, pure dance based on non-religious ideas and fusion themes. Bharatanatyam was also known as the dance of the devadasi clan to entice the royals in olden days.
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Attire, Musical Instruments and Symbolism

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