Bharat Natyam: Indian Classical Dance

Home
engl. dt. fr.

DoIt

motionsound.com
DanceZone

éé Dances & dancing styles / Tänze & Tanzstile / Danses & styles de danse
é Indian Classical Dance / Klassischer Indischer Tanz / Danse classique de l'Inde

Vyjayanthimala Bali			Bharat Natyam


Malavika Sarukkai

			Bharat Natyam, one of the oldest Indian Classical dance forms is in essence a dedicatory dance. This was performed by Devadasis in the temples, primarily in Tamil Nadu and to a lesser extent in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Bharat Natyam is compounded from 'bha' for bhava or emotional projection. 'ra' for raga or melody and 'ta' for tala or rhythm. Natyam means the art of dance. The Sangam Age from 500 B.C. to 500 A.D. marks the evolution of this dance form. The early part of the present century saw the resurgence of this dance form.
	Padma Subrahmaniam

Source: Indian Classical Dance & Music, Department of Tourism, Government of India, 1996
Published on motionsound.com by kind permission of the Department of Tourism, Government of India