history

Bharatnatyam is a classical dance from Tamil Nadu in South India. It is also known as art of temple dances. NatyaShastra is the main book written about the dancing style of Bharatnatyam. Bharatnatyam works on the lines of NatyaShastra.




It is considered to be the fire - dance, depicting the mystic presence of the fire God in the human body. Thus a Bharatnatyam dancer depicts the movements of a dancing flame. Contemporary Bharatnatyam is rarely practiced as Natya Yoga, a sacred Hindu meditational tradition.

Mudrakal

MUDRAKAL
Hastha Mudrakal - Meaningfull movements of hands are called Angyabhasha or action language. This is based on 24 Mudras, they are,Pathaaka, Mudraakhyam, Katakam, Mushti, Karthareemukham, Sukathundam, Kapitdham, Hamsapaksham, Sikharam, Hamsasyam, Anjali, Ardhachandram, Mukuram, Bhramaram, Soocheemukham, Pallavam, Thripathaka, Mrugaseersham, Sarpasirassu, Vardhamanakam, Aralam, Oornnanabham, Mukulam, Katakamukham.
Hastha Mudras and Rasa Bhavas combine together to express certain objects or actions. eg - Lotus, Sorrow, Shyness, Lion

Navarasangal

NAVARASANGAL
Navarasangal or the nine emotions, by facial expressions - Sringar, Karuna, Roudra, Hasya, Albhutha, Veera, Shoka, Bhayanaka and Bheebalsa ie, love making, sympathy, crual, joke, wonder, courage, sorrow and fear

Classical Indian dance in the British Raj

Classical Indian dance in the British Raj

The British Raj in India was a time of cultural hardship where these traditional dances were viewed by the British rulers as debauched and of doubtful morality. Furthermore, they were all labelled broadly as 'Indian dance' with no regard to the specifics of style. Later, linking dance with tawaifs and devadasis British rule prohibited public performance of dance. In 1947, India achieved independence. The classical forms and regional distinctions of dance were re-discovered, ethnic specialities were honoured.