About Bharatanatyam Bharatanatyam is evenly divided between

Keeping the culture alive… About Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam is evenly divided between three elements Nritta,
Nritya and Natya .
Nritta : Rhythmic Element.Interprits the language of rhythm with the help
of body movements. Pure dance whose constituents are, taal and laya time measure and rhythm. In nritta the emphasis is on pure dance
movements, movements for their own sake, creating patterns in space
and time.
Nritya : Combination of Rhythm with Expression.Conveys poetic
meaning with the help of expressions, rhythmic gaites and postures.
Abhinaya is one of the most important aspect of bharathanatyam, which
conjures up a fascinating world of imagination. A sanskrit term , abhinaya
means to educate, or convey to the audience.The Abhinayadarpana-a
sanskrit text by Nandikeswara-mentions that the actors educate the
spectator by stimulating in him the latent possibility of an aesthetic
experience. eg. Varna, Shabda, Pada etc.
Nritta : Rhythmic Element.Interprits the language of rhythm with the help
of body movements. Pure dance whose constituents are, taal and laya time measure and rhythm. In nritta the emphasis is on pure dance
movements, movements for their own sake, creating patterns in space
and time.
Bharat Natyam – Third Year Guru/Teacher: Bina Master Page 1 of 5 Keeping the culture alive… Pushpanjali
This is an item where the artist salutes to god, guru and the audience. This item is a
warmup item where the artist prepares the body for the next few hours of vigorous
performance.
Alarippu
This is a tamil word.Alar meaning to bloom. It comprises of set of movements without any
meaning or expression. The movements are performed for syllables set for a beat(Tala).
The complexity of the movements gradually increase. The steps are so formed that it looks
like a bud blooming into a flower. This is also a warmup piece to prepare the body for the
next few hours of performance. Eventhough there is no meaning, this can also be considered
as an item where the artist salutes god,guru and the audience
Raag: Nattya
Tala: Tishrajati ekthal
Words of song
Thadhang thaka thadighinna thom tha, thay, thayum tha tha tham kirthak tham dhitham, kirthathaka thay, thatha thay,
kirithaka tham dhi tham tauthattay, tham dhitham thay thaytay (2 times)
(3 different speeds) tam dhitham thatha thay thirmmanum
Tirmanam
Tahahata zumtharitha
zumthari zugatharitha
thadi ginna tham, thaka tadi ginna tham thaka thaku thaka, thadi ginna thom tha…
aaa ama ghe ghedathaka ghedathaka (3)
Dhaghu thaka thaka thadi ginna thaom that hay thay um thaka tham
.
Bharat Natyam – Third Year Guru/Teacher: Bina Master Page 2 of 5 Keeping the culture alive… Jatiswaram
This is also an item where the movements will not convey any meaning or
theme. Here the steps are more complex than the previous items. The
composition can have amazing postures and teermanas or
muktayas(ending of a jati). This is a musical composition set to a raga unlike
alaripu which has only syllables.
Raag: Kalyani
Taal: Tishrajati Ektaal:
Words of the song: Sa Nidapa Dhama gara Nire SA
3 sas (before 1st Thihi ):
1.
2.
3.
sa with pathaka going on the side
sa with alapadmaka – (hands slanted )
Sa dolahastha and alapadmaka (on the side)
1st Thihi (Shekarakhyasha)
Tattay tam thadithay tham (repeat) Thakita thadi ginathum (repeat 2
times)
2 sas (before 2nd Thihi)
1. Snake sa
2. Dola hasta and pataka (on the side)
2nd Thihi (Kartarimukha)
Thakita, Thakitha takhadimi tay tay tay tay tay tay didhitay (repeat)
Thakitha Thakitha Thakitha Thakitha (madhyalay)
Tay Tay Tay dithitay (repeat 5 times)
Sa (before 3rd Thihi)
Bharat Natyam – Third Year Guru/Teacher: Bina Master Page 3 of 5 Keeping the culture alive… 1.Kathaka muka and alapadmaka
2.Kathaka muka and alapadmaka lifting up your leg
3rd Thihi (Tripathaka)
Thakita Thakita Thakita thatkita Thay ya thay hi thay yum that that
thay thay dithithay (repeat on left side) thayhat thay hi (repeat 3 more
times) Thakita, Thakita, Thakita, Thakita thay thay dithithtay {repeat
2 more times.)
SAS before 4th Thihi ( 3 SAS )
1. Going on the side with padthaka (sitting down)
2. With alapadmaka and katkamuka lifting up the leg
3. Pose and neck movements
4th Thihi (ALAPADMAKA AND KATAKAMUKA)
Thay yum that that thay yum tha tha thay dithiththay (repeat on left side)
Tha thay thay thattha dit thay thay that tha (repeat on left side)
That thay thay thaha (repeat 3 more times) Thakita Thakita Thakita
Thakita thay thay dithithay (repeat 2 more times)
SAS before 5th Thihi
1. Chandanchu and Mruchulashchava
2. Alapadmaka going on the side
5th Thihi (Pataka)
Bharat Natyam – Third Year Guru/Teacher: Bina Master Page 4 of 5 Keeping the culture alive… Thay, Thay, Thay, Thay, Thay Thay Thay Thay dithihtay
(repeat) that thay thay ha dithay thaha thay thay tham (repeat) thay
(repeat 5 more times) Thay thay thay dithitay (repeat 2 times)
LAST SAS (alapadmaka)
1. Going behind with alapadmaka
2. Jumping and going on the side
Bharat Natyam – Third Year Guru/Teacher: Bina Master Page 5 of 5