Bharathanatyam
Bharatanatyam is a classic dance form originating from Tamil Nadu, a state in South India and known as the Indian National Dance. It is the oldest of all classical dance forms in India. It is the dance of the mind and soul. It is extremely traditional and known for its grace, purity, tenderness and sculpture like poses. It uplifts the dancer and the beholder to a higher level of spiritual consciousness.
Bharathanatyam was nurtured in the temples and courts of southern India since ancient times. The name Bharathanatyam is a simple derivation from the four most important aspects of dance. These are : Bha from Bhava meaning emotion, Ra from Raaga meaning music or melody, Ta from Tala meaning rhythm and Natyam meaning dance.
Thus Bharathanatyam is the dance that encompasses music, rhythm and the expressional dance or AbhinayaLater it was codified and documented as a performing art in the 19th century by four brothers known as the Tanjore Quartet whose musical compositions for dance form the bulk of the BharataNatyam repertoire even today.