Bharata Natyam is one of the most seasoned dance types of India. It was sustained in the sanctuaries and courts of southern India since old times. Later it was systematized and archived as a performing workmanship in the nineteenth century by four siblings known as the Tanjore Quartet whose melodic pieces for dance structure the heft of the Bharata Natyam collection even today. The workmanship was given over as a living practice from one age to another under the Devadasi framework under which ladies were committed to sanctuaries to serve the divinity as artists and artists shaping piece of the intricate ceremonies. These exceptionally capable specialists and the male masters (nattuvanars) were the sole vault of the craftsmanship until the mid twentieth century when a restoration of interest in India's social legacy provoked the informed world class to find its excellence. The way of thinking behind the dance is to look through the human spirit and join with the Supreme Being. In the dance type of Bharatanatyam, the craftsmen utilize delightful hand and eye developments to pass on the message. It is a greater amount of representation of the music in a visual structure.
History of Bharatanatyam: Origin and Significance
Bharatnatyam is an artistic yoga that involves the movement of the body parts in a very artistic and elegant manner. It is the most widely practiced of Indian classical dances in south India, and has it's origin in Tamil Nadu. The term Bharatnatyam was introduced in the mid thirties by S. Krishna Iyer and later spread by Rukminidevi Arundale. It comprises of Bhava,Raga, Tala, and Natya put together as Bharatanatyam.
Natyashastra is often reffered to as the Bible of Indian classical dance. It is said that the Gods and Godesses pleaded Brahma [the creator, as per Hindu Mythology] for the creation of another Veda, that was understandable by common man. So,Brahma created the fifth Veda, which is a combination of the existing four vedas [ Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva Veda]. He propogated this veda on earth through Sage Bharatha, who wrote it down as Natyashastra. Brahma took pathya [ words ] from the Rig veda, Abhinaya [ communicative elements of the body movements] from the Yajur Veda, Geeth [ music and chant] from the Sama Veda, and Rasa [vital sentiment, an emotional element] from Atharva veda, to form the fifth veda - the Natya Veda. Bharatha, together with groups of Gandharvas and Apsaras performed Natya, Nrtta, and Nrtya before Lord Shiva [the Lord of Devine Dance]. Thus Natyabecame the authoritative form of classical Indian dances. The term "Bharatnatyam" partly owes it's name to Sage Bharatha.
The Natyashastra reads, "when the world had become steeped in greed and desire, in jelousy and anger, in pleasure and pain, the Supreme one (Brahma) was asked by the people to create an entertainment which could be seen and heard by all, for the scriptures were not enjoyed by the masses, being too learned and ambiguous." The creation of Natyashastra is very important in the kaliyuga (the age of destruction of the world, as per Hindu mythology).
Centuries ago, there were many dancers - priestesses in the Hindu temples in south India, called Devadasis. They would sing, dance and play many musical instruments. They were well versed in Sanskrit and other languages. Since these dancers were called Devadasis, Bharatnatyam was originally called Dasi Attam.
Starting Age: 5 years old and above