Bharatanatyam – Adavu and Hasthamudra

Bharatanatyam is based on the theories of the books 'Natyasaasthram' and 'Abhinaya Darpanam'. According to the Abhinaya Darpanam, the Sangitaratnakara and other medieval treatises, dance is divided into three distinct categories, that is, Natya, Nritya and Nritta. Natya corresponds to drama. Natya means dramatic representation or drama with speech, music and dancing. Nritya corresponds to the mime performed to the song. That is in other words, it is the Interpretative dance. The dance which relates to Sentiment (rasa) and Psychological Staes (bhaava) is called nritya. 

The dance form is based on 'Adavu' (steps) and 'Hasthamudra' (hand gestures). There are 64 basic 'Adavu' and they are divided into 9 parts, on which 'Tatta adavu'(Tap), 'Naata adavu'(Perching on heels), 'Kuddichu mett adavu'(jump and beat), 'Mandi adavu'(sit), 'Sarukkal'(slide) and Tiramana Adavu(Finishing) are very important. Communication is done through 'bhavabhinaya' (facial expression) and 'hasthamudra' (hand gestures). The music of Bharatanatyam is based on Carnatic classical music. The instruments used are Veena, Flute, Mridangam and Violin.

The performance starts with the prayers to God Ganapathi and worship of Nataraja Moorthi. The sequence of the dance performance is 'Alarippu'(invocation), 'Jathiswaram'(note combinations), 'Shabdam'(notes and lyrics), 'Varnam'(a combination of pure dance and abhinaya), 'Padam'(all erotic) and 'Thillana'(again pure dance). After 'Thillana', with a 'Mangala Slokam' the dance program ends. Normally the performance lasts for two to two and half hours.