Bharatha Natyam as a Tamil classical dance
Subashini Pathmanathan
Bharatha Natyam is a Tamil Classical dance form based on Hindu
philosophy, and Hindu traditions and Hindu culture. Besides these,
Bharatha Natyam is totally based on the Tamil language.
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Some traditional dances are only performed by the female dancers
alone |
Yet some of the Kirthanams, songs, Surajathi and Varnam items are in
Telugu language, because until the year 1953, Madras presidency and
Andhra state were together (Surajathi was only in Carnatic music but not
included in the Bharatha Natyam. But now, some dancers adopt Surajathi
for dance).
Bharatha Natyam is the classical dance form of the Tamils. It has its
own grace, charm, and standing in the international sphere. Wherever
Bharatha Natyam is practised, it is expected to remain the same quality
and norms.
This particular art form is not only followed and practised in India
alone, but also preserved and practised by the expatriate Tamil
community all over the world. Bharatha Natyam is often referred as
Bharatham. This word is derived from the Tamil word bavam, ragam and
Thalam.
Traditional dance forms in any society must have certain norms, and
defined links with cultural, linguistic, regional, and religious
factors. These traditional dance forms generally have certain
long-standing historical background, and historical developments, in
different periods.
Almost all the traditional cultural dance forms are systematically
categorized into different steps, different hand gestures, eye
movements, and neck movements and different names for different foot
positions, and different foot movements.
Each traditional dance form has some deep meaning. Traditional dances
vehemently stick within certain limited framework. Even some of the
traditional dance forms like Russian Ballet, Western dance forms,
Eastern dance forms, South American dance forms, Far East Asian dance
forms, and South East Asian dance forms, are systematically confined and
defined dance techniques.
Each traditional form has its own distinguish defined makeup, unique
stage decorations, distinguishes costumes, and selective ornaments. Most
of the ornaments have certain names, as well as certain significance for
the purpose of usefulness.
Some traditional dances are only performed by the female dancers
alone, and some dance forms are performed by the females and males
dancers together. In addition, some classical dance forms are performed
only by the male dancers alone.
At the end of the last quarter of the 20th Century, a new trend of
dance form has developed by the modern choreographers. They insert
numerous ideas of their own creativity into these dances, and borrow
techniques from numerous other traditional dance forms.
They mainly borrow the nuances, techniques, steps, costumes,
ornaments, and makeup from different traditional dances, and along with
these dances, they also combine their own creativity dances, and name
these as modern dances. The choreographers borrow techniques from
Russian ballet.
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Bharatha Natyam is a rich classical oriental dance form |
Sometime back, a section of Sri Lankan Tamil expatriate community
wanted to have a separate dance of their own. Even still some sections
of the Sri Lankan Tamils feel like developing a new classical dance form
of their own identity. They regarded that Bharatha Natyam is an Indian
classical dance form.
It actually reveals that they are ignorant, and they do not have any
deep knowledge and depth in the traditional Tamil culture and Tamil
civilization. Such a suggestion is preposterous. They argue that the
style of spoken Tamil language and their social practices differ from
place to place, and region to region.
Even it differs from one area to another area; with-in the same
country, the Tamil grammar and the Tamil alphabetical letters remain the
same. Similarly the classical Tamil music and the Tamil classical dance
form must be always one and the same for Tamil communities all over the
world.
Some self-styled business-minded dance teachers introduce numerous,
baseless innovations in the classical Bharatha Natyam dances, which
cannot be regarded as the rich classical oriental dance form of Sri
Lanka. Hence it is impossible to advocate that Sri Lankan Tamil
community must try to develop a classical dance form of their own by
using their own ideas, without any firm footing.
A classical dance form must substantially adhere to the principles of
Natya Sastra. To develop a separate classical dance form one must
understand that a distinct literature and deep philosophy are needed.
Above all a separate music, which must be entirely different from the
classical Carnatic Music, is needed. Besides a separate Thala structure
should be found. It means such a dance form needs a grammar and idiom of
its own.
India is the homeland for 55 million Tamils, and Sri Lanka is
geographically separated by only 18 miles of sea. The Indian influence
has inevitably continued to dominate the Sri Lankan Tamil culture.
There is no doubt that Sri Lankan Tamil community has variety of folk
dances. These folk dances vary from area to area, and province to
province according to the social customs, and practices.
Due to the 30 years of terrorism in this beautiful island, numerous
folk (Desi) dance traditions, and traditional folk dance artistes have
migrated, or died or many of them have abandoned their professions due
to numerous reasons.
The reasons for the less popularity, of the folk dances today are
being shaded by the popularity of the classical dances, and meanwhile
due to the development of the modern technology like TV, CDs, Home video
system, and computer technology.
Some folk artistes are trying to revive it. Some of the traditional
folk dance forms have gained the state recognition, and are being
preserved, and imparted as a subject at the university level. |
