Bharata Natyam is one of the oldest dance forms of India. Originating in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, it encompasses the elements of BHA — Bhava, or expression; RA — Ragam, or melody; THA — Thalam, or rhythm; and NATYAM — dance.

Bharatha Natyam has it roots in the Natyashastra, an ancient exposition on dance and drama, whose author Bharatha was honoured as the recipient of Lord Brahma (the divine creator)'s instruction on drama and dance. It was nurtured in the temples and courts of southern India since ancient times, and later codified and documented as a performing art in the 19th century by four brothers known as the Tanjore Quartet. The art was handed down as a living tradition from generation to generation under the Devadasi system under which women were dedicated to temples to serve the deity as dancers and musicians.

These highly talented artists and the male gurus (nattuvanars) were the sole repository of the art until the early 20th century, when a renewal of interest in India's cultural heritage prompted the educated elite to discover its beauty. The revival of Bharata Natyam by pioneers such as E Krishna Iyer and Rukmini Devi Arundale brought the dance out of the temple precincts and onto the modern stage, though it retained its essentially devotional character. Through them and other like-minded individuals, the tradition of this ancient classical dance continued to grow and flourish under a modernised version of the guru-sishya parampara (one-to-one, teacher-to-disciple tradition). The ancient gurukulas have metamorphosised over time into a more sophisticated system of schools and academies, which continue to retain key traditional elements such as reverence for the guru.

Today Bharata Natyam is one of the most popular and widely performed classical dance styles and is practiced by male and female dancers not only in India, but worldwide. A fascinating melange of mood, mime and music, Bharatha Natyam is often lauded as divine poetry in motion.

If interested in beginner's classes, workshops taster sessions or performances please contact: Mrs Thabo Gananuthian by email.

Mrs Thabo Gananuthian: thabogn76@gmail.com

"Dance, like music, knows no geographical boundaries, no linguistic barriers and no racial divisions. All walls crumble where art is concerned. It is a great unifying and integrating force"