My quest for Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form which originated in Tamil Nadu (South India) and it is also the National Dance of India. 

Let me introduce you to some facts about Bharatanatyam:

• This dance was performed by Devadasis, the Temple Dancers.
• Only girls born in the caste, 'Temple Dancer Devadasis' where allowed learning and performing this sacred dance.
• Devadasis lived and died within the walls of the temple. Devadasis were wedded to God in a real sense.
• Bharatanatyam is usually accompanied by Karnatac or Carnatic music. (I have written already some posts about this type of music, if you are interested you can have a look...).
• A Bharatanatyam dancer tries to manifest the celebration of the eternal universe through the celebration of the beauty of the material body.
• During Medieval times Bharatnatyam dance declined. Devadasis were seen as servants and prostitutes.
• E. Krishna Iyer was a Lawyer in Madras and a dancer. He devoted his life to this classical dance and raised the social status of Bharatnatyam and also popularized it.
• Another contributor to the popularization of Bharatanatyam was Rukmini Devi Arundale. This young lady, born into a rich Brahmin family, was passionate about dancing. She started learning 'Ballet' under the great Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. Pavlova influenced Rukmini and turned her attention to Bharatanatyam by asking 'why she was studying a foreign form of dance instead of learning the traditions of her own country'. This was a turning point in Rukmini's interest to discover the ancient Devadasi dancing art. Rukmini Devi Arundale devoted her life to the study of the Devadasi art. She founded Kalakshetra in 1936 an Academy dedicated to the preservation of South Indian Arts.

What does the name Bharatanatyam has in it?

Bharatanatyam is composed fom the following words:

Bha from Sanskrit Bhava which means emotions.

Ra from Sanskrit Raga which means melody.

Ta from Sanskrit Tala which means rhythm.

Natyam from Sanskrit Natyam which means theatrical presentation.

In short 'Theatrical presentation which involves emotions, melody and rhythm'...

In order to enhance this post, I tried to hand-made the clothes and jewellery which a Bharatanatyam dancer wears in real for a Barbie. I had a lot of fun and it was a nice challenge.

A Bharatanatyam dancer wears a traditional bridal costume and a unique set of jewellery known as "Temple Jewellery".  Dancers also wear Ghungroos (metallic bells strung together) which serve to accentuate the rhythmic aspects of the dance.