Young India's Vision Of The Most Popular Bharatanatyam Dance

15th Jul, 2022

India is the place to be if you love to dance. Some of the oldest dance styles in the world, such as Bharatanatyam dance along with other traditional techniques of Kathak, Odissi, and Bhangra, may be found throughout the nation.

So, let us discuss everything about this classical Indian dance form, Bharatanatyam, and what is young India’s vision and take on it.

What is Bharatanatyam As a Dance Form?

The mother of many other Indian classical dance forms, Bharatanatyam is the oldest of them all. It was born in the Tanjore area of Tamil Nadu. It started in Tamil Nadu's Hindu temples and later took off in South India. It featured Natya, Nrita, and Nritya and was done with outstanding footwork and lovely gestures.

Bharatanatyam in Beijing China

There are various varieties of Banis used in Bharatanatyam. A guru's or school's particular dancing method and style are referred to as their "bani," or "tradition," in this context. These are given names based on the guru's village (except for some Banis). The Bharatanatyam style is distinguished by its fixed upper body, flexed knees and bent legs (Aramandi), stunning footwork, and a comprehensive sign language vocabulary based on hand, eye, and face motions.

The Lotus Temple: What Makes It Memorable?

One of the most well-known traditional Indian dances is Bharatanatyam. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in South India are the states where Bharatanatyam is most notable. The Bharatanatyam dance dates back nearly 2,000 years. Bharata, a well-known sage, is thought to have received the knowledge of Bharatanatyam from Lord Brahma, who later recorded it in a Sanskrit book called the Natya Shastra.

One of the foundational texts on Indian drama and aesthetics is the Natya Shastra. According to Natya Shastra, dance is divided into two distinct forms: nritta and nritya. In nritta, the emphasis is on perfecting abstract hand gestures and movements. In contrast, in nritya, the dancer uses a sophisticated system of hand gestures and body language to portray emotional expressions.

Features of Bharatanatyam Dance:

In Bharatanatyam dance, one dancer frequently plays several characters during a single performance, a technique known as Ekaharya.
Leg, hip, and transitional arm movements are used in the dance.
Emotions are expressed through expressive hand gestures and eye movements. It includes Taal, Bhav, Rag, and Ras.
This dance style, also known as fire dance, moves most of the time slowly but may also move quickly and fluidly.
A soloist, a mridangam player, a violinist or veena player, a flutist, and a cymbal player make up the accompaniment along with the Nattuvanar who leads the dance recitation.

Young India’s Vision on Bharatanatyam:

Indian kids can learn about their ancestry through the Bharatanatyam dance through Bharatanatyam classes conducted by professionally qualified dance instructors. The Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu, India, is where this kind of classical dance, thought to be over 2000 years old, first emerged.

However, Bharatanatyam is currently practiced worldwide and is not just popular in Tamil Nadu. The eight Indian classical dances include Bharatanatyam as one of them. This dance style has a solid connection to Indian youth. If we use the famous Ambani family's future daughter-in-law Radhika Merchant as an illustration she is a stunning classical dancer who recently performed her Arangetram.

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Additionally, the Natyashastra of the sage Bharata Muni is where this dance's roots can be found. One of the primary texts used to study the technique and grammar of body movement in Bharatanatyam dance is the Abhinaya Darpana by Nandikesvara. Taking Bharatanatyam classes at a reputed dance academy will help a student learn all the techniques of this Indian classical dance form.

The devadasis—the young girls whose parents "gave" them to the temples to be married to the gods—kept the style alive. And as a result of the numerous dance academies like Kafqa that are now accessible in India and worldwide, this form is still in existence. They instruct the pupils in several Indian traditional dance disciplines like Bharatanatyam.

The popularity of Bharatanatyam Among Chinese Youth:

In addition to this, Bharatanatyam is quite popular among young Chinese people as well as Indian youngsters nowadays.

After Bollywood movies, classical Indian dance has become popular among Chinese audiences. A young woman in Beijing aggressively promotes Bharatanatyam among her fellow citizens, especially the young children.

Learning Bharatanatyam online is becoming increasingly popular in China, where Bollywood movies, Indian food, and yoga have all gained popularity. Every week, 50 Chinese kids, most of whom are between the ages of six and seven, attend classes to learn the intricate details of Bharatanatyam.

The time was right for such a move, as Bollywood and its music are becoming increasingly well-liked in China, particularly among young people who may in the future be instrumental in fostering cultural ties between India and China.

Conclusion

Get in touch with Kafqa Academy if you are interested in learning Bharatanatyam online or any other classical dance style. We at Kafqa Academy have qualified dance instructors (Gurus) who can help your children or adult learners. You can book a free demo class for Bharatanatyam and then enroll yourself in the dance course.

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