Bharatha Natyam of today
A ll the Classical dance forms are confined into the category of
Margi; meanwhile all the folk dances are categorised into the Desi.The
Desi dance form all over the world differs from region to region, place
to place, district to district and season to season. Most of this Desi
dance forms are formulated amusements.
This particular Pradesha folk dance according to Natya Sastra is
called Desi Dance. Desi dance is not supposed strictly to adhere to
certain norms. Any body can handle the Desi dance form or folk dance
according to their own ideology, and modify the costumes, makeup, and
music.
The Margi dance form which transcends the international barriers, and
boundaries and acquires the international recognition is regarded as
Classical dance. This Classical dance is very polished and specialised
by very sophisticated techniques. Bharatha Natyam comes under the Margi
dance. Bharatha Natyam has a spiritual history behind it.
It is a Tamil classical dance form, which was fostered in the Tamil
country, many centuries ago. This ancient dance form is a part of Tamil
heritage, Tamil culture. Above all it is totally based and linked with
spiritual Hindu philosophy and Hinduism. Majority of the Tamil community
all over the world is preserving and protecting this art form with full
devotion and dedication.
Even the expatriate Tamil community has carried the religion,
language, literature, music, paintings, sculptures and social customs
with them to the migrated lands. This dance form is totally based on a
well established Carnatic Music.
Unfortunately today many of the expatriate Tamils and non Tamils and
the Tamils of TamilNadu try to introduce numerous modifications,
innovations in this ancient art forms. As a result, they distort the
whole idea.
They borrow some ideas from the other state dances, and from other
state folk dance, but at the end the pure traditional classical dance
form Bharatha Natyam, loses its sense. Moreover competitions are
arranged in this divine classical dance. Such as regional level,
district level, zonal level and state level. Most of the student
community and parents are very much keen to participate in the
competition to win a certificate or medal.
Now a days many boards and universities are conducting examinations
and competitions. Hence most of the students have lost interest in
performing the stage performances, and improve their own creativity. It
is a performing art, but unfortunately the present generation students’
attitude is being changed. Their only interest is collecting maximum
amount of certificates, medals and publicity.
Many dance teachers introduce numerous fusion dances, mixed assorted
dances into the classical dance forms, and destroy the purity of the
art. Even some non Tamil speaking community teachers all over the world,
who have no knowledge in the Hindu philosophy, Hinduism or in Tamil
language, handle the art form blindly, by using the same Bharatha Natya
costumes and make ups, and display the dance under the label of Bharatha
Natyam, and Bharatha Natya Arengetram. Ultimately they destroy the total
sense and essence of the art.
Some of these teachers have studied and qualified from the Indian
institutions, and universities, but they only know what they have learnt
from the institutions, they don’t have the ability to improve their own
creativity, or ideas, within the confined framework due to lack of
knowledge, in the Tamil language and spiritual deep Hindu philosophy.
Due to these attitudes the present and future generation of the
student community is being misled. At the end, the art is gradually
losing its total value at their hands.
Self-styled dance teachers who are introducing the so called creative
dances, and combined assorted numerous other dances and modern dances,
cannot be considered as pure rich classical oriental Bharatha Natyam.
- Subashini Pathmanathan
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