Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam is a major genre of Indian classical dance that is originated in Tamil Nadu.

Traditionally, it has been a solo dance that was performed exclusively by women, and it expressed South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas, particularly of Shaivism, but also of Vaishnavism and Shaktism.

Bharatanatyam’s theoretical foundations trace to the ancient Sanskrit text by Bharata Muni, Natya Shastra.

Its existence by 2nd ce is noted in the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram, while temple sculptures of 6th ce to 9th ce suggest it was a well refined performance art by mid 1st millennium ce.

Bharatanatyam may be the oldest classical dance tradition of India.It remained exclusive to Hindu temples through the 19th ce, was banned by the colonial British government in the Indian community protested against the ban and expanded it outside the temples in the 20thce.

Modern stage productions of Bharatanatyam have incorporated technical performances, pure dance based on non-religious ideas and fusion themes.