Bharatanatyam is a very old and special dance from India. It started more than 2,000 years ago in a place called Tamil Nadu, in South India. We know it’s really old because it is based on an ancient book called the Natya Shastra, written a long time ago (between 2000 BCE and 200 CE)! Also, some Indian temples have carvings of dancers showing Bharatanatyam moves. One famous temple, called Thillai Nataraja, even has 108 dance poses carved into its walls!

A long time ago, this dance was performed in temples by special women called Devadasis. They danced to show their love and devotion to the gods. These dancers learned from expert teachers called Nattuvanars, who passed down the dance from one generation to the next. Back then, Bharatanatyam was also called Sadir Attam or Dasi Attam.

The name “Bharatanatyam” has a special meaning! It comes from three important words:

• Bhava (expression – how a dancer shows emotions)
• Raga (melody – the music)
• Tala (rhythm – the beats in the music)

Natyam simply means “dance”!

There are different styles of Bharatanatyam, depending on where they started. Some famous ones are the Melattur, Pandanallur, Kalakshetra, Thanjavur, Vazhuvoor, Mysore, and Kalamandalam styles. Each one has its own special way of moving and performing!

Want to learn more about these topics? Check out the articles below!