Bharata Natyam facts for kids

Bharatanatyam is a famous classical dance from India. It's one of the oldest dance forms in the country.

Both boys and girls perform this dance. It's a way to tell stories and show many different feelings. Dancers use their whole body to express actions and emotions. This beautiful dance is popular in India and around the world. People in places like China, Europe, and North America also enjoy learning about it.

History of Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam comes from the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. Its beginnings are mentioned in old Tamil writings from about 600 BC. The dance was brought back to life in the late 1700s and again in the early 1900s.

How the Name Came About

The name "Bharatanatyam" was created in the 20th century. A famous dancer named Rukmini Devi Arundale and others helped name it. The name suggests it's the original dance style described in an ancient book called "Natya." This book was written by a wise person named Bharata. So, the name means "Bharata's Dance."

The book describes different dance poses. But since there were no pictures, dancers had to imagine what the exact poses looked like. Rukmini Devi and her teachers did an amazing job bringing these poses to life.

From Ancient Times to Today

The dance we see today is mostly based on an older style called Sadir-attam. This dance was performed by temple dancers known as devadasis. These dancers kept the ancient traditions alive through their performances.

Over time, the importance of these temple dances changed. But in the 18th century, a ruler named Raja Serfoji of Tanjore helped revive Sadir-attam. Later, in the 20th century, people like Rukmini Devi worked hard to bring this dance form back into the spotlight. They helped it become the respected classical dance we know as Bharatanatyam today.

See also

In Spanish: Bharatanatyam para niños

Images for kids

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  A female dancer doing the Natraja pose

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  Bharatanatyam is an Indian classical dance originated in Tamil Nadu.

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  Dancers at Thanjavur, Brihadeshwara temple dedicated to Shiva. The temple has been a major center for Bharatanatyam since about 1000 CE. Bharatanatyam has a huge effect in South Indian peoples' life, parents teach their children this dance form since their childhood and children take this legacy forward to further generations. People of India are proud of this culture.

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  Rukmini Devi Arundale, here in 1940, helped revive Bharatanatyam after Hindu temple dancing was banned by the British colonial government in 1910.

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  Bharatanatyam requires expression, posture and rhythm.

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  Costumes in Bharatanatyam

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  An expression through gesture in Bharatanatyam.

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  A female Bharatanatyam dancer making an expression.

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  A male Bharatanatyam dancer making an expression.

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  Raja Reddy, a popular Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer.

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  A dancer performing the pose of Goddess Meenakshi

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  A Bharatanatyam dancer striking a pose during practice

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  A group of female Bharatanatyam dancers.