Bharatanatyam (Tamil : "பபபபபபபபபபபப"), is a major genre of Indian classical dance that

originated in Tamil Nadu.[1][2][3] Traditionally, Bharatanatyam has been a solo dance that was
performed exclusively by women,[4][5] and it expressed South Indian religious themes and spiritual
ideas, particularly of Shaivism, but also of Vaishnavism and Shaktism.[1][6][7]
Bharatanatyam's theoretical foundations trace to the ancient Sanskrit text by Bharata Muni, Natya
Shastra,[6] its existence by 2nd century CE is noted in the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram, while
temple sculptures of 6th to 9th century CE suggest it was a well refined performance art by mid 1st
millennium CE.[5][8] Bharatanatyam may be the oldest classical dance tradition of India.[9]
Bharatanatyam style is noted for its fixed upper torso, legs bent or knees flexed out combined with
spectacular footwork, a sophisticated vocabulary of sign language based on gestures of hands, eyes
and face muscles. Bharatanatyam style is noted for its fixed upper torso, legs bent or knees flexed
out combined with spectacular footwork, a sophisticated vocabulary of sign language based on
gestures of hands, eyes and face muscles.[4] The performance repertoire of Bharatanatyam, like
other classical dances, includes nrita (pure dance), nritya (solo expressive dance) and natya (group
dramatic dance).[4][10]
Bharatanatyam remained exclusive to Hindu temples through the 19th century,[8] was banned by the
colonial British government in 1910,[11] the Indian community protested against the ban and
expanded it outside the temples in the 20th century.[8][11][12] Modern stage productions of
Bharatanatyam have incorporated technical performances, pure dance based on non-religious ideas
and fusion themes
Bharatanatyam (Tamil : "பபபபபபபபபபபப"), is a major genre of Indian classical dance that
originated in Tamil Nadu.[1][2][3] Traditionally, Bharatanatyam has been a solo dance that was
performed exclusively by women,[4][5] and it expressed South Indian religious themes and spiritual
ideas, particularly of Shaivism, but also of Vaishnavism and Shaktism.[1][6][7]
Bharatanatyam's theoretical foundations trace to the ancient Sanskrit text by Bharata Muni, Natya
Shastra,[6] its existence by 2nd century CE is noted in the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram, while
temple sculptures of 6th to 9th century CE suggest it was a well refined performance art by mid 1st
millennium CE.[5][8] Bharatanatyam may be the oldest classical dance tradition of India.[9]
Bharatanatyam style is noted for its fixed upper torso, legs bent or knees flexed out combined with
spectacular footwork, a sophisticated vocabulary of sign language based on gestures of hands, eyes
and face muscles.[8] The dance is accompanied by music and a singer, and typically her guru is
present as the director and conductor of the performance and art.[1] The dance has traditionally been
a form of an interpretive narration of mythical legends and spiritual ideas from the Hindu texts.[4] The
performance repertoire of Bharatanatyam, like other classical dances, includes nrita (pure
dance), nritya (solo expressive dance) and natya (group dramatic dance).[4][10]
Bharatanatyam remained exclusive to Hindu temples through the 19th century,[8] was banned by the
colonial British government in 1910,[11] the Indian community protested against the ban and
expanded it outside the temples in the 20th century.[8][11][12] Modern stage productions of
Bharatanatyam have incorporated technical performances, pure dance based on non-religious ideas
and fusion themes
Etymology[edit]
The term Bharatanatyam is a compound of two words, Bharata and Natyam.[8]
The term Bharata in Bharatanatyam, in the Hindu tradition, is believed to have named after the
famous performance art sage to whom the ancient Natya Shastra is attributed. There is a false belief
that the word Bharata is a mnemonic, consisting of "bha"–"ra"–"ta".[8] According to this
belief, bha stands for bhava (feelings, emotions), rastands for raga (melody, framework for musical
notes), and ta stands for tala (rhythm).[8][13][14] The term Natyam is a Tamil word for "dance". The
compound word Bharatanatyam thus connotes a dance which harmoniously expresses "bhava, raga
and tala".[13]
In its history, Bharatanatyam has also been called Sadir

Attire[edit]
The attires of a Bharatanatyam dancer resembles a Tamil Hindu's bridal dress. It consists of a tailor
fitted brilliantly colored Sari, with a special pleated cloth stitched that falls in front and opens like
a hand fan when she flexes her knees or performs footwork. The Sari is worn in a special way,
wrapping the back and body contour tightly, past one shoulder and its end then held by a jewelry belt
at the waist.[74]
She is typically adorned with jewelry, outlining her head or hair, on ear, nose and neck. Her face has
conventional makeup, eyes lined and ringed by collyrium which help viewers see her eye
expressions.[75] To her ankles, she wraps one or more leather anklets [ Ghungroos ]. Her hair is tied
up in the traditional way, often braided in with fragrant flowers (veni or gajra).[76][77]
The fingers and feet outlines may be partially colored red with kumkum powder, a costume tradition
that helps the audience more easily view her hand gestures.[78]

Example mudras – Example mudras – gestures as symbols in Bharatanatyam.