The Classical dance - Bharata Natyam( fire dance)

Bharata Natyam is the most significant clssical dance by Carnitic music of South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This dance inspirations come from the sculptures of ancient Chidambaram temple. The name 'Bharatanatyam' is derived from three basic concepts of Bhava, Raga and Taala. The theory  is based on the  'Natyasaasthram' and 'Abhinaya Darpanam' books. In Hindu mythology the whole universe is the dance of the Supreme Dancer, Nataraja, which is the name of Lord Shiva prsented by Ananda Tandava.


Dance form
The dance perform is based on 'Adavu' (steps), 'bhavabhinaya' (facial expression) and 'Hasthamudra' (hand gestures). There are 64 basic 'Adavu' and  divided it into 9 parts, on which 'Thattadavu', 'Naatadavu', 'Kuthithumettadavu', 'Mandiadavu', 'Sarikkal' and 'Thattumettu' are very important. The performance begins with the prayers to God Ganapathi and worship of Nataraja Murti. The sequence of the dance performance is 'Alarippu', 'Jathiswaram', 'Sabdam', 'Varnam', 'Padam' and 'Thillana'. After 'Thillana', the dance program ends with a 'Mangala Sloka' . Bharata Natyam has three distinct elements to it: Nritta (rhythmic dance movements), Natya (mime, or dance with a dramatic aspect) and Nritya (combination of Nritta and Natya).

 Among all classical dance, Bharata Natyam is considered to be a 'fire dance', Odissi (water), Mohiniattam (air), Kuchipudi (earth) and Kathakali (sky). This Bharata Natyam dancer's right hand is in the Katakamukha Hasta, the three joined fingers symbolizing the sacred syllable "OM". The left hand's fingers are in Alapadma Hasta, the rotating lotus of spiritual light. The eyes are directed towards the Supreme Lord. The left leg is lifted, symbolizing the swift ascent of the consciousness in one step from the Earth to the Heaven.

costume
The costume of this dance is paijama and jacket of Kanchipuram silk or Banaras silk with  lots of ornaments of shining stones on neck, ears, hands, and head, jasmin garland in the hair and foot trinklet with small bells .

music 
Dance and music are inseparable forms; only with Sangeetam (words or syllables set to raga or melody) can dance be conceptualized. The music of Bharatanatyam is based on Carnatic classical music. Veena, Flute, Mridangam and Violin are the music instruments, which are used in dance performance.

Narthaki
The Natya Shastra states the qualities required  a female dancer narthaki, because they have beautiful limbs, free from indolence, capable and conversant with the sixty-four arts and crafts (kala), clever, courteous in behavior, brave, hard working,  good skilled in dancing and songs, beauty,  brilliant and many more other qualities for that it is known as a female dancers.



Famous Bharatanatyam Dancers
1. Priya Murali
2. Sucharita Datta
3. Ganga Thampi
4. A. Janardhanan
5. Smt. Shaly Vijayan
6. Renjith Babu C.
7. The Dhananjayans
8. Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala
9. Fumika Kawaharada
10.J. Suryanarayana Murthy
11.Bobby Joseph
12.Rumya Shanker
13.Deepa Lakshmi
14.Lakshmi N. Pillai
15.Swarna
16.Radha Marar
17.Uma Palam Pulendran
18.Gayathri Subramaniam
19.Rashmi Joji John
20.N. Priyadarshini
21.Bala Saraswath
22. Mrinalini Sarabhai
23. Rugmini Arundel
24.Kamala Laxman
25. Padma Subrahmaniam