Bharatanatyam Dance: An Indian Classical Dance Form - Art & Culture Notes for UPSC!

Bharatanatyam, a prominent Indian classical dance form, over 2000 years old is viewed as the mother of many other Indian classical dance forms. Traditionally, this was a dance performed by women that were initiated in the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu and thereafter flourished in South India. Bharata Muni’s Natyashastra and Nandikesvara’s Abhinaya Darpana throw light on this form. Bharatnatyam is considered to have been revealed by Lord Brahma to Bharata. An illustrative form of Hindu religious subjects and spiritual concepts expressed by an artist with excellent footwork and striking gestures, its performance repertoire includes Nrita, Nritya and Natya.

In this article, let us look at the history of Bharatanatyam dance, its salient features, sequence of performance on stage and its exponents for the UPSC IAS Exam.

Also, check out the Kerala kathakali dance here.

Origin and Evolution of Bharatanatyam 

• Bharatanatyam emerged in the temples of South India and used to be performed by Devadasis, thus it was also called Dasiattam.
• Visual evidence of this dance form can be found in several paintings and sculptures in historical places.
• The Sangam work ‘Silappadikaram’, one of the five great epics of Tamil Literature mentions this dance form.
• The Gopurams of the Thillai Natarajar temple in Chidambaram have about 108 poses of Bharatanatyam carved in them.
• The Shiva temple of Kanchipuram which is adorned with carvings dating back to the period between the 6th and 9th centuries CE demonstrates the growth of this dance form.
• Karnataka’s Badami cave temples dating back to the 7th century have a sculpture of Lord Shiva portrayed as Nataraja performing the Tandava dance. The 18 arms of the figurine reveal the mudras that are a part of Bharatanatyam.
• The dance form Sadir acts as a precursor to Bharatanatyam.
•  Since 1000 CE, the Thanjavur Brihadeeswara temple has been a center for Bharatanatyam.
• During British rule, many colonialists accused temple dancing as a front for prostitution.
• Conventional Indian dances were discouraged with the launch of an anti-dance movement supported by the Christian missionaries.
• Freedom fighter E Krishna Iyer fought for the revival of Bharatanatyam, challenging the British government and was arrested on charges of nationalism.
• The government banned temple dancing in 1910.
• Artists like Bala Saraswati, Rukmini Devi Arunadale, etc. revived it and brought it outside the temples.

Check out this article on Manipuri Dance.

Features of Bharatanatyam

• Bharatanatyam dance is referred to as Ekaharya, where one performer pulls on several roles in a single performance.
• The three most vital features of Bharatanatyam dance are Nritta, Natya and Nritya.
• This classical dance form that involves a lot of symbolism is performed by both men and women.
• The Bharatanatyam dress and costumes worn by the performers are brightly coloured with women wearing saris and men wearing dhotis.
• A lot of make-up and brilliant ornaments are used to highlight the facial expressions and gestures of the artists on stage.
• The gestures in Bharatanatyam are called Hastas or Mudras.
• The performance also encompasses many asanas of Yoga.
• Bharatanatyam dance poses are referred to as Karanas.
• The music used here is Carnatic music and is supplemented by instruments such as the flute, violin and Mridangam.
• A conventional Bharatanatyam performance includes a sequence of presentations and the entire set is called a Margam.

Check out this article on the Sattriya dance.

Sequence of Bharatanatyam 

• The repertoire of Bharatanatyam dance is very vast; however, a performance follows a regular pattern. Initially, there is an invocation song.
• Then the next item is the Alarippu, which means to decorate with flowers. It is an abstract piece that combines pure dance with the recitation of sound syllables.
• Next comes the Jatisvaram, a brief dance piece executed to accompany the musical notes of any raga of Carnatic music. Jatiswaram has no words or Sahitya but is made up of Adavus meaning pure dance sequences – the nritta. They form the ground for training in Bharatnatyam.
• Bharatnatyam, as a solo type, is largely inclined toward the abhinaya or the mime aspect of dance – the Nritya, where the performer reveals the theme via movement and mime.
• Jatiswaram is followed by Shabdam in which the accompanying vocal is usually in adoration of the ultimate being.
• The dancer executes the Varnam post the shabdam. The Varnam is considered to be the most significant component of the dance that includes both nritta and nritya and represents the essence of this classical form.
• The dancer then performs a number of abhinaya items that express a range of moods.
• A Bharatanatyam performance closes with a Tillana that has its source in the Tarana of Hindustani music.
• The ending of the piece is a sequence of well-designed melodious lines touching a climax. The performance finishes with a Mangalam invoking the blessings of the Gods.
• The orchestra that accompanies consists of a vocalist, a Mridangam player, a violinist or a veena player, a flutist and a cymbal player. The person who carries out the dance recitation is the Nattuvanar.

Check out this article on Gandhara and Mathura school of art.

Famous Exponents of Bharatanatyam Dance

1. The four Nattuvanars of the dance form, namely Ponaiyah, Vadivelu, Sivanandam and Chinnaiya well-known as Tanjore Bandhu thrived in the court of Maratha ruler, Serfoji-II from 1798 to 1832, molded the present-day Bharatanatyam.
2. Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, a dance guru from Pandanallur village was a famed exponent of Bharatanatyam dance and is essentially known for his style referred to as the Pandanallur school of Bharatanatyam.
3. Rukmini Devi Arundale, one of Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai’s students championed and effectively performed the Pandanallur (Kalakshetra) style and also remained one of the leading proponents of the dance form’s revival movement.
4. Bala Saraswati was one of the most important exponents of this dance form in the last century.

Check out the Kuchipudi dance form here.

Questions to Ace Your Exams

Q1.What is Bharatnatyam dance?
Originating in Tamil Nadu, Bharatanatyam is one of the eight Indian Classical dance forms. Bharatanatyam beautifully captures the essence of religious themes, including Shaivism and the spiritual ideologies of South India. The striking characteristic of this dance form is its fixed upper torso, bent knees, and legs, coupled with extensive footwork and hands, eyes, and facial gestures.
There are several varieties of Bharatanatyam costumes, but each of them is known for its vibrant color palette with intricately carved jewelry, including bangles, necklaces, earrings, and flowers for hair pleats. The headpiece is known as "thalaisaman" and is tied above the flowers. The necklace of the chain is generally designed in peacock or floral styles and is studded in red, green, and blue stones and pearls. For the upper arm, ornaments called "Vankies" are tied on both sides, and a broad belt is worn on the waist.
The Bharatanatyam dancers generally go for a peculiar makeup that highlights their eyes to enhance their facial expressions. 

Q2.How to be a good Bharatanatyam dancer?
There are various practical tips that one can go for in order to be a good Bharatanatyam dancer. Since dance forms are basically outbursts of expression, one should do thorough research about the underlying background and culture associated with Bharatanatyam. 
After doing the research, one needs to take lessons from an experienced tutor. Bharatanatyam is a skilled dance form and focuses greatly on expressions and posture. A person aspiring to be a good Bharatanatyam dancer needs to have proper guidance. Apart from a good tutor, the person must also undergo some strength training, stretching, and cardiovascular exercises to maintain the shape and flexibility needed for the dance.
It is also advisable that the person aspiring to be a good dancer must watch Bharatanatyam performances both offline and online. It would help them observe the various nuances and subtleties of the dance form. It is easily accessible from YouTube or the websites of some of the local performing arts centers.
Lastly, it goes without saying that practice makes perfect. In order to be a good performer, the dancer needs to be consistent in practicing all that he has learned. This dance form is difficult and, hence, requires a lot of zeal and patience. 

Q3.Who is the best Bharatanatyam dancer in the world?
It isn't easy to pick out the best dancer, but Mallika Sarabhai, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Alarmel Valli, Rukmini Devi Arundale and Padma Subrahmanyam are the honorary mentions.

Q4.Is Bharatanatyam a folk dance?
Bharatanatyam is a folk dance that originated in Tamil Nadu, and it illustrates the tales of Shaivism, spiritualism, and South Indian folk themes.

UPSC Practice Questions on Bharatanatyam 

1. Consider the statements given below.
   1. Abhinaya Darpana is one of the important sources of textual material, for learning the technique and grammar of body movement in Bharatnatyam dance.
   2. Kathakali dance is referred to as ekaharya.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 & 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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