Bharata Natyam

Bharata Natyam or Bharatanatyam (Tamil: பரதநாட்டியம்) is a classical dance form originating in Tamil Nadu, nowadays practiced throughout South India. It is held as the national dance of India.

In Kali Yuga, the center of most arts in India is Bhakti (devotion) and therefore, Bharata Natyam as a dance form and carnatic music set to it are deeply grounded in Bhakti. Bharata Natyam, it is said, is the embodiment of music in visual form, a ceremony, and an act of devotion. Dance and music are inseparable forms; only with Sangeetam (words or syllables set to raga or melody) can dance be conceptualized. 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). In the dancers, you can see a form of their honoring God. In Indian culture, song is always a form of praising God. The dances are very complex and never repeat. Its songs are purely devotional love songs, the dancer being the devotee and God, the beloved.

Bharata Natyam is also known as the manifestation of the ancient idea of the celebration of the eternal universe through the celebration of the beauty of the material body. It has its inspirations from the sculptures of the ancient temple of Chidambaram.

Bharata Natyam comes from the words Bhava (Expression), Raga (Music), Tala (Rhythm) and Natya (Classic Indian Musical Theatre). Today, it is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles and is practiced by many dancers all over the world.

Source: wikipedia-Bharata_Natyam