Bharatnatyam
Bharatnatyam is the most ancient form of all classical dances in India and is called the Bib le of the classical Indian Dance. It is believed that a Hindu sage named Bharat muni created this art form. He also wrote a famous book Bharat Natya Shastra, also called the fifth Veda from which sprang the related South Indian musical tradition of Carnatic music.
E. Krishna Iyer introduced Bharatnatyam word in the mid-thirties. It is probably coined from the four syllables, BHAva (expression), RAga (music), TAla (rhythm) and Natyam (dramatic art). In the beginning, it was called Sadir-attam (court dance) or Dăsiattam (performed by the daasis-the servants of God).
One can attain mastery in Bharatnatyam through rigorous practice and total dedication. It requires a command over the technique of movements to achieve balance, grace, suppleness, physical endurance and a faultless sense of rhythm. The three aspects of Bharatnatyam are Nritta (dance), Natya (dramatic art) and Nritya (combination of Nritta and Natya).
Nritta can be broadly divided into Chari (One-leg movement), Karana (Two-leg movements), Khanda (3 Karanas), Angahara (4 to 9 Karanas) and Mandala (4 to 5 Angaharas).
Bharatanatyam is considered to be a fire-dance as it is a mystic manifestation of the metaphysical element of fire in the human body. The performer should qualify the folowing requirements to be a perfect danseuse: slender, with large eyes, youthful, beautiful, self-confident, witty, pleasing, well aware of when to dance and when to stop, able to follow the flow of songs and music and of a happy disposition.
Here is a list of various theme tours:
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