Bharatanatyam

Etymology

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.
The Encyclopedia Britannica states that Bharata Natyam is Sanskrit for "Bharata’s dancing"

Technique

Abhinaya or Natya - dramatic art of story-telling in Bharata Natyam
Nritta - pure dance movements, as a medium of visual depiction of rhythms
Nritya- combination of abhinaya and nritta

Histroy

Surviving texts of gold in Tamil literature and poetry known during the Sangam age as Tolkappiyam Silappadikaram and later, to try a variety of dance traditions that flourished in these times. This work is particularly important because one of its main characters, a courtesan Madhav is a dancer. Silappadikaram is my knowledge of ancient Tamil culture and society, where art, music and dance was well advanced and has played an important role.

In ancient times, was designed as a "dasiattam" by Mandir (Hindu temple) devadasi. Many ancient sculptures of Hindu temples is based on the positions of Bharata Natyam dance Karanas. In fact, the celestial dancers, Apsaras, which are represented in many scriptures dancing the heavenly version of what is known on earth as Bharata Natyam. In the most important sense, a Hindu deity is a revered royal guest in his temple / living room, they offer the "sixteen hospitality" - including music and dance, pleasing to the senses. Therefore, many Hindu temples traditionally maintained full of musicians and dancers trained with indigenous leaders.

Kali Yuga, the center of the greatest art in India is Bhakti (devotion) and, therefore, the dance form Bharata Natyam and Carnatic music with it is deeply rooted in Bhakti. Bharata Natyam is said, is the epitome of music in visual form, the ceremony, and the act of dedication. Dance and music are inseparable forms; only Sangeetam (words or syllables September Raga or melody) can dance be understood.

The Tanjore Tamil country in particular, has always been home and center of learning and culture. It was the famous Tanjore quartet Chinnayya, Ponniah, Vadivelu and Sivanandam the Tanjore Court to the King Marathi Saraboji time (1798-1824), who made a rich contribution to music and Bharata Natyam and has also completed the program re- edit Bharathanatyam in its current form with its various forms Alaripu the folk-Svaram, Varanam, Sadanam, Padam and Tillana. The descendants of these four brothers are products of nattuvanar or Bharata Natyam dance teachers at Thanjavur. Originally, they formed a community of itself and most of them were not Saivite Brahmins.

Bharata Natyam is believed to mainly a renewal of Cather, the ancient art of dancers.This temple dance form evoking 19th and 20th century reconstructions of Cather, the art of temple dancers of ancient dance forms.