“Dance is the hidden language of the soul. ” Dance is something way more than just fist-pumping at some party. Dance has deep meaning; it is an art form that can range from the simplest of steps to the most intricate set of moves. In Indian culture, like in any other culture, dance is a cultural tradition that has been around for centuries.
In this paper, I will discuss the several ideas behind the Indian dance, Bharatanatyam, as well as its importance in Indian society. The Indian culture has eight traditional dances that can all be traced back to different parts of the country.The eight traditional dances include Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Odissi, and Satriya. Bharatanatyam is celebrated as the Indian National dance. “Well I love watching all types of Indian dance. Bharatanatyam is the classical dance that I do.
It’s a really old dance style originating from South India in the state of Tamil Nadu. ” Bharatanatyam, being as hard as it is to pronounce has a long meaning in the native language of South India, Tamil. The dance formed centuries ago in the state of Tamil Nadu but can date back to Hindu temple dances thousands of years ago.“Bha means expression, Ra means music, ta mean rhythm, and Natyam means dance. ” If you put it all together, Bharatanatyam means the expression of music through music and dance.
Today, Bharatanatyam has spread far beyond India but is still not well known to Americans. No matter where you go in the world, you will always see dancing. Dancing has blended into societies and holds a spot in any culture. For example, in America, one traditional dance is the Waltz. Over time, dances change based on the changes in society.
Bharatanatyam was very popular throughout India but slowly declined in North India after British rule.Bharatanatyam had negative connotation and “by the first quarter of the 20th century, the classical dance of South India was almost wiped out, even in Tamil Nadu. ” “Against all odds, a few families preserved the knowledge of this dance tradition. ” Now Bharatanatyam is widely popular in India and has attracted many young artists. I was able to talk to a student from India that is very versed on the subject of Bharatanatyam and other classical Indian dances. Her name is Nikita Monocha and she is a fellow student here at Brooks.
When I asked, “What does Bharatanatyam represent?”Nikita replied, “There are lots of intricate poetry, steps, and expressions used to depict gods, idols, stories, and nature. ” The dance truly is an art form demonstrated with the body. “The eyes become a very important part of the dance, as a way to express anger, grief, happiness, just the basic human emotions. ” (Rachita Nambiar). Bharatanatyam has seven steps when one is performing it. There is tatta, which means tap.
You have to be in a half sitting position when you tatta. Another step is called natta, to stretch. Natta requires the heel to be on the ground and the foot to be lifted up.Visharu deals with the hand motions and hand signs.
Your arm movements and hand gestures must be precise for the visual effect. Tattimetti is another step in Bharatanatyam that deals with the feet. You stand on your toes and alternate having your heels tap the floor. Teermanam is ending a scene in the dance. The performer standing straight with his or her palms facing each other with a certain hand sign usually ends the scene. Sarikal means to slide.
The slide requires both heels to be on the ground most of the time. The last step involved in Bharatanatyam is KudittaMetta.This is jumping on your toes, then landing on your toes and then placing your heels down. Sounds easy right, try doing the seven steps of Bharatanatyam in a choreographed dance. Bharatanatyam is a classical dance performed India.
Bharatanatyam changed over time due to changes in society. You got to see how Bharatanatyam is performed. We got to take a closer look from an actual Bharatanatyam dancer, Nikita Monocha. Next time you find yourself dancing, just think about the rich history and centuries of evolution it took for your dance to become what it is today.
