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Home » Culture in Chennai (Madras) » Bharatnatyam |
Bharatnatyam |
Bharatnatyam is the oldest classical dance of India.
Bharatnatyam owes its origin to Natya Shastra. It is believed that Gods appeared before Lord Brahma and pleaded him to compose another Veda that will be easy for the men of Kaliyug to read and understand. Lord Brahma took words of Rig Veda, drama and mime from Yajur Veda, music from Sam Veda and rasa from Atharva Veda to compose the fifth Veda which was known as the Natya Veda. Sage Bharata who wrote the Natya Shastra performed it with Gandharvas and Apsaras in front of Lord Shiva. Bharatnatyam descended from the natya and nritya performed by Bharata.
In ancient times this classical dance was performed only in the royal courts and temples. The dance was popular with the devdasis of the temples of Southern India. Later in the nineteenth century four brothers (Chinniah, Shivanandam, Ponniah, Vadivelu) who were commonly known as the Tanjore Quartet took initiative of popularising this art. Before 20th this ancient classical dance was confined within the Devdasi system and the Nattuvarnas or the male gurus.
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But 20th century saw a change in the culture and heritage of India. At this time the devdasis were also going through a tough time.During this time Bharatnatyam became an accepted dance form among the elite group. The credit mainly goes to E. Krishna Iyer and Rukmini Devi Arundale.
The dance is chiefly comprised of Nritta or the dance, Natya or the drama and gestures and Nritya which combines both Natya and Nritya.
Modern Bharatnatyam dancers are continuously experimenting with this classical dance. Today Graduate and Postgraduate degrees are offered in this dance form.
Bharatnatyam today is one of the most popular dance form which is performed by both male and female dancers. This dance form is not just confined within South India but it has gained popularity all over India. Many Bharatnatyam dancers who perform this dance abroad has taken a vital role in popularising the Indian culture outside India. Bharatnatyam which is one of the classical dance of India also introduces us to the culture of Chennai and also India.
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