A highly stylized dance form from south of India, “Bharatanatyam” is a form of rhythmic yoga (natya yoga), for revealing the spiritual through the corporeal. It is the most ancient of all classical dance forms in India, which is based on Natya Shastra, the ‘Bible’ of Indian classical dance forms. It is the most celebrated religious dance form in India and also the most widely practiced of South Indian classical dances and around the world. It is dedicated to the praise of God through the depiction of religious stories. Originally, it was performed by devdasis – women who performed religious dances in Hindu temples.
The technical aspects of Bharatanatyam consist of abstract and aesthetically beautiful, rhythmic, controlled body movements danced in the “araimandi” posture. Bharatanatyam expressions are highly stylised in gestural interpretation, suggestive in ideas, subtle and full of emotions. Complex rhythmic footwork is set to improvisation of complex melodious sequences/rhythms and syllables of “Mridangam”.