Bharatnatyam Essay

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Bharatnatyam: • Bharat Natyam is the most widely known and exalted of the classical Indian dances. Although it has been traditionally associated with Tamil Nadu, it now has a strong presence throughout India. Even outside of India, the majority of schools that teach Indian dance, teach this style • It is believed that the genre of Bharat Natyam was developed by Dassi Attam performed by Deva Dassis (temple dancing girls) Sadr (forms in palaces in southern India) • Bharatanatyam is considered to be a fire-dance — the mystic manifestation of the metaphysical element of fire in the human body. • The name Bharatanatyam is a simple derivation from the four most important aspects of dance (in Sanskrit). These are: Bha from Bhava meaning emotion, Ra from Raaga meaning music or melody, Ta from Taala meaning rhythm and Natyam meaning dance. Thus Bharatanatyam is the dance that encompasses music, rhythm and expressional dance or Abhinaya and strictly adheres to the Natyashastra (the scripture of classical Indian dance). • Bharatanatyam, it is said, is the embodiment of music in visual form, a ceremony, and an act of devotion. • There are a number of musicians and instrumentalist who provide the musical accompaniment. Typically there is one or more vocalist, a person reciting the dance syllables • Musical instruments: table, or how south Indians call mridangam • Typically a contemporary performance includes many different types of stages. The dance usually will begin with Ganapati Vandana - A traditional opening prayer to the Hindu god Ganesh, who removes obstacles. The second performace will be what is called Alaripu. The Alarippu, which means "flowerbud" in Tamil, is traditionally the first full dance piece that most Bharatanatyam dancers learn. It symbolizes the awakening of the

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