Bharatanatyam- The Fire Dance
Dating back to the 3rd Century BC, this form of Indian classical dance is very rightly called the ‘fire dance’. The movements of such a dancer resemble the movements of a dancing flame. It is also the oldest form of classical dance in India.
Bharatanatyam originated in the temples of Tamil Nadu and is now practised all over the globe. It is named after a famous sage Bharata who authored the ‘Natya Shastra’. It is believed that Bharatnatyam was revealed by Lord Brahma to Bharata. The Natya Shastra is one of the fundamental treatises on Indian drama and aesthetics.Bha from Bhava meaning emotion, Ra from Raaga meaning music or melody, Ta from Taala meaning rhythm and Natyam meaning dance. Thus, Bharatanatyam is an amalgamation of emotions, music and rhythm, all expressed in the form of dance.
Bharatanatyam is one of the major recognized styles of classical dance in India. The others being Odissi(Odisha), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Kathakali (Kerala), Mohiniattam (Kerala), and Kathak (Northern India). Many of the ancient sculptures in Hindu temples are based on Bharatanatyam dance postures. It was nurtured in the temples and courts of southern India since ancient times. The underlying idea of this dance forms is the celebration of our universe through the celebration of the beauty of this material body. But as dance without music is incomplete, this traditional form of dance is accompanied by the soulful Carnatic Style of music from South India. The Abhinaya Darpana by Nandikesvara is one of the main sources of textual material, for the study of the technique and grammar of body movement in Bharatnatyam Dance. There is also a great deal of visual evidence of this dance form in paintings and stone and metal sculptures of ancient times. The instruments traditionally used in Bharatanatyam are flute, Veena, and mridangum (drum).
Bharatanatyam is generally performed by women. It is a solo dance which two aspects: lasya, the graceful feminine movements and tandava, the masculine aspect. In most solo performances, dancers keep switching between different characters to weave a story line which can be further understood by the narrative music in the background.
During the rule of Maratha King Saraboji II, immense contribution was made towards music and Bharatanatyam. Their descendents, too, formed the original stock of dance teachers in Tanjore. The fall of the Hindu kingdoms in the South marked the eventual decline of Natya, as the Muslim invasion in the North had completely wiped out Natya there. The sacred dance was eventually replaced by rice offerings. It would have been long forgotten, had it not been for some individuals whose efforts brought about a renaissance. E. Krishna Iyer was one of those who raised the social status of Bharata Natyam and greatly popularized it. Rukmini Devi Arundale is considered the most important revivalist in the Indian classical dance form of Bharata Natyam from its original ‘sadhir’ style. Rukmini Devi Arundale established a cultural academy called Kalakshetra (which means holy palace of arts) to revive the traditional arts of India. Bharatanatyam, though has changed a lot since its inception, is still closely related to Hinduism. However it is good to note that at present, not only Hindus but many Christians and Muslims are also learning it, bringing it beyond the rigid forms of religious boundaries.
Bharatanatyam Arangetram is the debut on-stage performance of a student, after undertaking years of training. It is a public graduation performance for this dance form. The word arangetram is from the Tamil language and means ascending the stage by a dancer on the completion of formal training.
Bharatanatyam is more than just a dance form. It is a medium of devotion to the deities. Learning it can take a lot of time and hard work. It is best to find a teacher (Guruji) who can teach you from the scratch. It is important to learn from someone who has years of knowledge and has already gone through the hard work (tapasya) it takes, to master this ancient form of dance. It is a well known fact that there is no substitute to the Guru-Shishya (Teacher-Student) way of imparting this knowledge, however, it is not a bad idea to learn the basics of Bharatanatyam online. Since everything can be accessed at the click of a button nowadays, Bharatanatyam tutorials don’t lag behind in this race. http://onlinebharatanatyam.com/ is a wonderful website that provides the student with audios and videos of various mudras, steps, history and basics of Bharatanatyam.
One of the most striking features of Indian classical dance is the use of hand gestures or Mudras. There are approximately fifty-five root mudras used to clearly communicate specific ideas, events, actions, or creatures in which thirty-two require only one hand, and are classified as `Asamyukta Hasta’, along with twenty-three other primary mudras which require both hands and are classified as ‘Samyukta Hasta.
The beautiful costumes worn by these dancers add to the grace and beauty of this ancient dance form. The unique set of jewellery worn by them is called the ‘temple jewellery’. The Ghungroo, anklets made of rope with rows of copper bells attached on the anklet, is an indispensable part of a classical dancer’s attire. The talent and experience of a dancer is judged by the amount of ringing heard. The less ringing heard, the better the dancer. The costumes worn by them are deeply symbolic and do not restrict their movements. Noted Indian Bharatanatyam dancers include Mallika Sarabhai, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Sonal Mansingh, Rukmini Devi amongst others. Many of them were conferred with prestigious Padma Shree and Padma Bhushan awards.
Bharatanatyam or any other classical dance form for that matter, is an integral part of the rich heritage and culture of our nation. Dance is a powerful personal discipline. Different mudras change energies in our body. A true dance is connected to the beauty of the body. Sadly, there is a persistent decline of interest in such dance forms.
However, the government bodies and many non government organizations are also working towards helping these dance forms regain the stature they once enjoyed. For instance, Sabhas are organizations involved in the promotion of folk art forms in South India. Gana Mukundhapriya is one such Sabha that specializes in folk dances. Various events are held each year to celebrate folk dance. There is an urgent need to sensitize and educate people, especially the youth, about the real values of Bharatanatyam. The legacy must continue and we must play pivotal roles in being agents of change.
