Modern Bharatnatyam

Bharatanatyam is a traditional classical dance form which has its origins from Tamil Nadu in South India. It is a grandiose mixture of different melodies, rhythm, emotions, story, mime, philosophy, poetry, physical energy, tempo, etc., woven to mesmerize the audience into a spiritual rapture. The core of Bharatanatyam is, however, the ultimate mix of the spiritual and physical energies designed to invoke Bhakti in the eyes and minds of the viewers. This is accomplished with the help of a sophisticated vocabulary of gestures/hastas, rhythm/tala and expression/bhava, all intertwined into one. A Bharatanatyam dance is composed of two aspects known as, Nritta (Pure Dance and Abstract Movements) and Abhinaya (Mime or Facial Expression). While nritta has intricate rhythmic footwork synchronous with the time and tempo of the music, Abhinaya visually interprets the narrative of the lyrical composition. “When the flare of Nritta combines with the shades of Abhinaya, the sheer communicative beauty of the form emerges which takes on myriads of colors that rouse a Bhava (expression) creating a Rasa (aesthetic experience), soaked in the beauty of the form and the mood”.

When we look beyond the music and the drama, the rhythm and the poetry, we understand Bharatanatyam is really moored in something which is more profound and spiritual. It is very easy and common for people to simply appreciate the outer beauty and glamor of the art form, but for the audience to experience a Rasa that exists beyond this physicality is the true test of the quality of performance of the artist. Bharatanatyam is not meant to merely entertain. Every performance is an experience, for not only the artist but also the audience. “It is a spiritual experience of sublime aesthetics”. - elaboration of the sentence (3 sentences)

Bharatanatyam used to only be practiced by devadasis or women who were married to the Gods in the Temple (women who made their offering to the Gods through their dance). However, the colonization in India caused the art to lose its original sanctity and women who practiced the form were known as nautch girls. Thanks to the pioneering efforts of Rukmini Devi (Founder of Kalakshetra), the status of the art was resurrected in society during the mid-1900s and is now a widely practiced and respected stage art form. Though practitioners of the form have proliferated throughout the world in large numbers, the art is still battling its few stereotypes.

Relevance

Over the last decade or more there have been concerns as well as questions raised by young dancers about the relevance of Bharatanatyam in today’s world. Dancers who put forth the question about relevance, are most likely unsure whether they want to master the art form. In short they are frightened to make the commitment to learn the art form in the way that it has to be learnt. In order to make Bharatanatyam “relevant” and “contemporary” people have done numerous improvisations to impress the younger audience, many of which haven’t been successful. The older generations most probably have watched or enjoyed typical traditional bharatanatyam performances.

Carnatic Music - Bharatnatyam

The core essence of Bharatanatyam is it’s inherent spirituality. Bharatanatyam shares an inextricable link to Carnatic music. The dance has always been a literal form, compared to the more abstract styles of dance practiced in other parts of the world. It’s a literal interpretation of the lyric making the dance visual moving poetry performed with grace, expression and beauty. Just like a carnatic musician improvises and elaborates within the melodic structure of the composition, a Bharatanatyam dancer elaborates and improvises within its lyrical structure. The recurring themes in Indian Classical music are that of philosophy, mythology, and love.

Bharatanatyam, unlike other dance styles like Ballet or Contemporary dance, has a very literal approach as opposed to an abstract approach and can still be used to portray just about any of them. “From the loftiest of advaita philosophies to the most nuanced of human expressions, it’s range and grammar goes far beyond”.

“How Bharatanatyam goes forward is in the hands of its practitioners today”. If we choose to highlight it’s athleticism and lose its core in the process, it is our making. For serious professionals to be fully understood and appreciated, the onus is entirely on them to make their art relevant and reach out. It is not only what you are saying, but also how you say it, that makes or breaks it for the audience. It is important as an artist to be fully convinced and absorbed in the theme being performed rather than blaming the art. The difference between a mature and immature dancer is simple – their understanding of the lyric and their thought process as an artist.

Bharatanatyam will and always be about transcending the physicality of movement… of celebrating the dance within.

Bharatnatyam - A first step into the movie world

Learning bharatanatyam is seen as a sure-fitted way into getting into the movies. Almost every actress and actor goes through a certain level of basic dancing. A few of them are trained extremely well even before they became actresses. Below I have mentioned a few actresses who are professional classical dancers:

1. Hema Malini: She is a renowned actress as well as a Bharatnatyam dancer. She began dancing at a young age and still dances to this day.

1. Padmini: She is a Indian actress who was born in Thiruvananthapuram. Along with being an actress, she was also a renowned Bharatanatyam dancer. She was trained by the renowned guru Vazhuvoor B.

1. Vyjantimala: Vyjantimala is another actress who is known for her background in Bharatnatyam. Even though she stopped acting after her marriage, she continues to learn and perform bharatanatyam.

1. Shobana: Shobana is a trained and renowned bharatanatyam dancer. The actress has been awarded a Padma Shri for her contribution. She became an independent dancer in her twenties and runs her own school known as ‘Kalarpana’ in Chennai.

1. Meenakshi Seshadri: This actress knows multiple dance forms and a few of them include Bharatnatyam, odissi, kuchipudi, etc.

1. Revathi: Revathi is a professionally trained Bharatanatyam dancer and has been learning the art form since the age of 7. The actress performed her Arangetram in Chennai during the year 1979.

1. Amala Akkineni: This actress has a Bachelor's degree in Bharatanatyam from ‘Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts’. She has given many live performances worldwide.

1. Manju Warrier: She is a Kathakali and Bharatanatyam dancer. “As much popularity, she holds for her acting, she is that famous for her dancing”.