Bharatanatyam also previously called Sadira Attam is a major form of Indian classical

dance that is indigenous to Tamil Nadu [1]. Bharatanatyam is the oldest classical dance tradition
in India[citation needed]. It was nurtured in the temples and courts of southern India since ancient times[1][2]
[3]
 It is one of eight forms of dance recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi [4][5] (the others
being Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Manipuri and Sattriya) and it
expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas, particularly
of Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism.[1][6][7]
Description of Bharatanatyam 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 the mid 1st millennium CE.[5][8] Bharatanatyam is the oldest classical
dance tradition of India.[9] Theoretical foundations of the Indian classical dance laid out in Natya
Shastra.[6] can be traced to various ancient art forms including Bharatanatyam.
Bharatanatyam content some types of banis. Bani or tradition is term used to describe the dance
technique and style specific to the guru/school. These are named according to the village of the
guru (with the exception of some banis).Bharatanatyam style is noted for its fixed upper torso,
bent legs and knees flexed (Aramandi) combined with spectacular footwork, and 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 Nattuvanar, 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] It was banned
by the colonial British government in 1910,[11] but 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 has been spread out and popular throughout India that has been done in
different ways and have incorporated technical performances, pure dance based on non-
religious ideas and fusion themes.[5][8]