Bharata Natyam

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Bharata Natyam

Didactic stories are more influential and prevalent in society than people realize. The story of Christ’s birth keeps the world celebrating His birth every year on Dec. 25th. Attention-grabbing stories written about certain celebrities in tabloid newspapers often draw a huge following. But interesting stories like these are not just communicated orally or by paper. In a form of classical Indian dance called Bharata Natyam, performers can convey beliefs, legends, and ideas through movements, gestures, and expressions put to song. Bharata Natyam is an alternative form of storytelling, which conveys similar and important ideas to that which students concentrate on when studying literature of the world. These ideas are particularly evident in the dance, “Shabda (Khanda Muruga)”.

Bharata Natyam originated in a manuscript called the Natya Shastra. This manuscript was written by Sage Bharata around 4000 B.C. This dance form was first conceived in order to express one’s energy and emotions and is one of the oldest of the eight other forms of classical Indian dance. Above all other purposes, it is a form of religious expression or prayer, which also incorporates another important form of storytelling. Bharata Natyam was initially performed in temples by women who were dedicated to God since birth. However, it eventually made its way to the stage and is now taught and performed worldwide.

In relation to literature that most are familiar with throughout the world, Bharata Natyam fulfills all the same important purposes. It gives a sense of history and culture by the nature of the myths the performers convey. Many of the dances pay tribute to a certain god and for this reason ...

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...yam. Homepage for India allied an performing arts. 25 Nov. 2002. <http://www.artindia.net/bharata.html>.

Bharatanatyam. Hindu Student Council at University of Michigan. 25 Nov. 2002. <http://www.umich.edu/~hindu/dance/bharatanatyam.htm>.

Bharata-Natyam: Shiva Nataraja, the God of Dance. Bharata-Natyam: Sacred South Indian Dance by Chandikusum. 25 Nov. 2002. <http://www.geocites.com/vienna/2861/Bharaeng.html>.

Mishek, Chrysanthi. Personal Interview. 27 Nov. 2002.

“Shabda (Khanda Muruga).” Rangapravesh: Classical Indian Dance Performance.

Perf. Chrysanthi Mishek. 5 Aug. 2001.

Shiva Nataraja: Lord of the Dance. Radiant Planet Home Page. 24 Nov. 2002.

<http://radiant.org/shiva/index3.html>.

Thirumalai, Kavita. Bharata Natyam. Rhada Ganesan’s Home Page. 24 Nov.

2002. <http://users.erols.com/gayatri/bnatyam.htm>.

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