Indian Classical Bharathanatyam Dance

Harini Jeevitha, 12 years old.


Arcana Raja, 13 years old.

Indian dance performed by these ladies is authentic solo Mellathur style of Bharathanatyam which is famous in South Indian province of the multi cultured and colourful India. This popular South Indian dance form called Bharatanatyam is a 20th century reconstruction of Cathir, the art of temple dancers. Cathir in turn, is derived from ancient dance forms. The word Bharata, some believe, signifies the author of the famous Sanskrit treatise on stagecraft, called NatyaShastra, and the word Bharatanatyam is sometimes given a folk etymology as follows:Bha for Bhava or abhinaya and expression, Ra for raga or melody, and Ta for tala or rhythm.

Bharata refers to the author of Natya Sastra, and natya is Sanskrit meaning for the art of sacred dance-drama brought to the stage at the beginning of the 20Th century. For further info on this classical Indian heritage refer to wikipedia.org

Back to the video performance of the dancers, I could not believe that both of them were such young girls who not only performed the movements of the dance in such a articulate manner but also the facial expression or abhinaya was simply superb. Especially Arcana Raja is amazing.

Being an Indian, it always make me feel good to witness a good Bharathanatyam from Indian dancers. As far as I'm concern there is no other classical Indian dance has the richness of Bharathanatyam. You can't have all the effect of this dance like energy, agility, expressions, control, grace, youthfulness and the same time inept maturity in any other form of dance. Divine dance of India. Enjoy the dance. You may feel free to disagree.