Bharatanatyam dance has energy and attack, fluid movement and expression that is full of nuance and subtext. It engages every part if the dancer’s body and being, blending pure abstract dance (nritta) and narrative exploration (nritya). It is characterized by a grounded body position, explosive rhythmic foot work and striking geometric lines drawn through the arms and torso. The dancer uses eyes and hand gestures to sculpt the physical space around her and lead the audience into an imaginative realm of story and emotion.
Bharatanatyam is a classical dance with ancient origins in the devotional and creative life of South India where it evolved in temples, communities and royal courts. Its gestures are a stylized form of everyday body language and physical expression in South India. The dance is underpinned by South Indian Carnatic music and a Bharatanatyam performance is a dialogue between the dancer and musicians creating a dynamic of presence and immediacy. It is a composite art form drawing on rich traditions of Indian poetry, devotion, drama, philosophy, myth and visual art.
Historically the dance belonged to the devadasis (servants of god), female temple dancers symbolically married to the deity of the temple. They danced and sang as an integral part of ritual worship and spiritual expression.
Today Bharatanatyam is a major international dance form inspiring students and audiences the world over. Its compelling vocabulary of movement and feeling speaks across time and culture and is a force for expression in contemporary life.
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