Bharatnatyam — Classical Dance of Tamil Nadu

Bharatnatyam originated in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

It was traditionally performed by temple dancers called Devadasis in Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva across ancient Tamil Nadu. For centuries, it was known as 'Sadir' or 'Dasi Attam' before being renamed and popularized in the 20th century.

The name "Bharatnatyam" is often believed to be an acronym derived from three essential elements of dance, combined with the word 'Natyam' (which means dance in Tamil/Sanskrit):

• Bha (Bhavam): Expression / Emotion
• Ra (Ragam): Melody / Music
• Ta (Talam): Rhythm / Beat

A traditional Bharatnatyam performance involves three components:

1. Nritta: Pure dance movements focused entirely on rhythm, footwork, and geometric poses without conveying any specific story.
2. Nritya: Expressive dance where the dancer uses facial expressions (Abhinaya) and hand gestures (Mudras) to narrate a mythological story or poem.
3. Natya: The dramatic element, resembling a theatrical play.

During British colonial rule, the Devadasi system was banned, and the dance form almost died out. It was revived in the 1930s by visionaries like Rukmini Devi Arundale (who established the Kalakshetra foundation) and E. Krishna Iyer. They removed the social stigma attached to the dance and brought it from the temples to the modern stage.