Classified as one of the oldest among all the contemporary classical dance forms, Bharatanatyam holds a prominent place in our culture today. Over the centuries, innovations and creativity has molded it, without changing the original purpose and essence, in to a spiritual, divine, and a meaningful addition to our society. As much as there is room for improvisations and imaginative interpretations, Bharatanatyam or classical dance as such, is a science in itself. One has to follow the parampara, shastras, sampradaya and certain technical rules to keep its originality and purpose alive.

Bharatanatyam, along with the other classical art forms in India, has its origins in the manuscript called the Natya Shastra which was written by Sage Bharata around 4000 B.C. It was primarily conceived out of the urge to express one’s emotions and exuberance. When the world was in a state of turmoil and endless conflicts, and greed and desires prevailed, Brahma pooled all the resources from the four vedas to create a fifth veda called the Natya Veda. Thus, as a form of expression, often called a yoga, dance proved to be a medium through which the common man could find unity between the cosmos and its creator. Originally called Sadir, Bharatanatyam, was practiced strictly in temples and was performed only on special religious and festive occasions by Devadasis. It later came under the patronage of the kings of Southern India. It was only in this century that Bharatanatyam gained attention and regard in the society as a classical art form. Rukmini Arundale and others pioneered this movement and it was thus popularized among all classes of society.

Dance originated and became part of the temple because its aim was to attain spiritual identification with the eternal. The center of all arts in India is Bhakti or devotion and therefore, Bharatanatyam as a dance form and the carnatic music it was set to are deeply grounded in bhakti. Bharatanatyam, it is said, is the embodiment of music in visual form, a ceremony, an act of devotion. Dance and music are inseparable forms: only with sangeetam (words or syllables set to raga or melody) can dance be conceptualized. Bharatanatyam has three distinct elements to it: Nritta (rhythmic movements of pure aesthetic value), Nritya (movements in which expression or abhinaya is emphasized), and Natya (dance with a dramatic aspect). The word Bharata, interpreted as the dance form created by sage Bharata, has within it the essence and uniqueness associated with Bharatanatyam:

A typical Bharatanatyam recital has a traditional order which carefully prepares the dancer as well as the audience with its gradual increase in tempo and challenge. Smt. Balasaraswati, a peerless exponent of this art, gives this beautiful analogy. She says,

“The Bharatanatyam recital is structured like a great temple: we enter through the gopuram (outer hall) of alarippu, cross the ardhamandapam (half-way hall) of jatiswaram, then the mandapam (great hall) of shabdam and enter the holy precinct of the deity in the varnam. In dancing to Padams, one experiences the containment and the simple and solemn chanting of sacred verses in the closeness of God. The thillanabreaks into movement like the final burning of camphor accompanied by a measure of din and bustle”.

A prayer, or mangalam, traditionally marks the end of this most wonderfully complete and symmetric art.

As students, teachers, and patrons of dance, we must realize the significance of this sacred art and use this medium to unify and reassert the harmony of man with man and of man with God.