About Dance

About Bharata Natyam

The classical Indian dance of Bharata Natyam was originally born in south India and remains it’s most ancient performing art form.  Bharata Natyam is as ancient as the sacred holy texts it attempts to translate, as colorful as the mythological Gods and Goddesses whose stories it re-enacts, and as erotic as the sculptures which adorn the temples in which it was born.  Bharata Natyam dance encompasses movement, emotions, melody, rhythm, expressions, stamina, music, theatre, discipline, and life experiences. 

Bharata Natyam is rooted in Hinduism and is practiced at a variety of personal levels. It is a form of yoga and spirituality that is practiced today and has been for many centuries. In devotion, the act of dance activates an energy source which awakens the soul and takes you to a world of tranquility and meditation. The ultimate bliss for a dancer is to dive so far into the state of dance that the dancer slowly disappears and as a result, only the dance exists. 

This spiritual revelation is achieved through various manners of discipline that is chosen by the dancer’s divine path. This exploratory movement takes a dancer through a life long journey of profound discoveries in the nature of the body, the complexity of the mind and the abandonment of the spirit.  In Indian dance, the physical body is galvanized and breathing.  From the crown of the head to the tip of the toe, there must be a continuous flow of energy through the chakras in order to execute movements with power and significance. The face speaks with mimetic expressions of the emotion which is being shared. 

Whether it is ancient tales of the Gods or 21st century knowledge, the mood is created and shared with the audience. Once a divine synergy is created, the dance becomes alive. The body is precisely symmetrical and geometrically positioned  to show many angles and lines in union with half and full sitting knee bends,  alternating knee drops,  full leg floor slides, curled and pointed toes, jumps, spins, intricate footwork and stretched kicks all set on a particular rhythmic pattern. The hands speak in a language of their own with over 60 single and double hand gestures. The hand gestures are used as descriptive movements in poetry. 

The delicate craft of the hands is expressed in different South Indian languages and has now transited over to Western languages reaching out to a more dynamic, varied audience.  In the state of dance, with emotions and physicality, the spirit is the light which glows through the performers eyes and captivates the audience in order to create the sublime synergy. This synergy is the proof of our genetic human connection and will bring a mood of understanding, respect and peace to all who witness it. 

“Where the hands go, there should follow the eyes, where the eyes go, there should go the mind, where the mind goes, bhava (emotions)  is created, where bhava is created, rasa or sentiment will arise.”    -Abhinaya Darpana         





By Kharé Communications