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Dances of India - Learning
Bharata Natyam. $29.95
1 DVD Set.
Instructional Dance DVD for beginners with easy menu options.
Time: 60 Minutes.
Special
Promotional Price:
$15.50
Featured in Dance Teacher Magazine.
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Discription :
This DVD features Padma Chebrolu,
teaches traditional Bharata Natyam as
performed by hundreds of millions of Indians
all over the world. This dance tradition
still follows the rules set by Guru Bharata
in his Natya Sastra [Science of Dancing]
from the second century A.D. |
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It Includes:
Introduction to the art form, Salutation, Single Hand Gestures,
Warm-Up Exercises, Steps
Series -1, Head Movements, Eye Movements,
Neck Movements, Steps Series -2, Double Hand Gestures, Poses,
Costumes, Make-up, Ananda Natanam [2-Minutes] dance. |
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Salutation:
Namaskaram or Tatti Kumbidal, The
dance class and recitals always begin and finish with the
Salutation. In this, the dancer is asking for the blessings of
the earth, the Gods, the Guru and the audiences.
1. Feet are together in Sama pada position. Hold the hands at
the chest level holding Shikhara, with a distance to be visible.
2. Strike the right leg and swing the right hand into stretched
flat pataka position and repeat this ont he left side.
3. Sit down in the PurnaMandala or Muzhummandi position with
hands coming into Pushaputa and offering flowers to the earth.
4. Both hands touching the earth in the chatura mudra and then
touching the eyes, repeat this total 3 times.
5. Hands are brought up above the head in the Anjali position.
6. Anjali hands brought down in front of the fore head.
7. Anjali hands brought down to the front of the chest. |
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Single Hand Gestures : Asamyukta Hastas. |
1. Pataka - Flag.
2. Tripataka - Flag in three parts.
3. Ardha Pataka - Half Flag.
4. Kartari Mukha - Scissors Fave.
5. Mayura - Peacock.
6. Ardha Chandra - Half Moon.
7. Arala - Bent.
8. Shukathunda - Parrot's Beak.
9. Mushti - Fist
10. Shikhara - Peak. |
11. Kapitha - Elephant Apple
12. Kataka Mukha - Opening in a bracelet.
13. Suchi - Needle.
14. Chandrakala - Digit of the moon.
15. Padmakosha - Lotus Bud.
16. Sarpa Sirsa - Snake hood.
17. Mriga Sirsa - Deer Head.
18. Simha Mukha - Lion Face.
19. Kangula - Tail.
20. Ala Padma - Lotus. |
21. Chatura - Square.
22. Brahmara - Bee.
23. Hamsaya - Swan beak.
24. Hamsapaksya - Swan wing.
25. Samdamsa - Pincers.
26. Hamsapaksya - Swan wing.
27. Tamarachuda - Rooster.
28. Trishula - Trident.
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Warm - Up Exercises:
1. Place the hands on the sides of the waist.
Feet to the sides and keens bent in Aramandi position. Gradually
start sitting as heels are being raised. Sit down in the Purna
mandala position by fully sitting down on the heels. Gradually
get up and back to the Aramandi position.
2. Sit on the floor with feet touch each other in front. Put
both hands on the feet. Lower your upper body and slowly bent
down and touch the toes with the forehead. Come back slowly and
repeat.
3. Start in the Aramandi position, jump and sit down in the
Purna mandala [full sitting position on the toes] and strech the
right leg to the side. Repeat the same to the left leg. |
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Steps Series -1 & 2 : Different styles within
Bharata Natyam will have different variations and
classifications to the adavus and sollukattu. |
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1. Tattadavu: Tatta means to beat. The body is in
Araimandi and the feet strike the floor alternately with the
sole. There are eight variations in this group. The sollukattu
for this group is Taiya tai.
2. Nattuadavu: Natta means to stretch. From the basic araimandi
position, one leg is stretched outward either to the side or the
front striking the floor with the heel and then is brought back
to position. There are eight variations in this group. The
sollukattu for this group is Tai yum tat ta tai yum ta ha.
3. Pakkaadavu: Pakka means side and the emphasis on the steps of
this group is to move sideways. There are four in this group and
the sollukattu for this group is Ta tai tai tha dhit tai tai ta.
4. Ettaadavu: Etta means to reach out. This group derives its
name from the movements of the hands. The feet beat the floor
alternately, both are then raised with a slight jump on the
balls of the feet and one foot is brought back to position while
the other foot is balanced on the toes. There are six steps in
this group. The sollukattu is Tat tai ta ha dhit tai ta ha.
5. Kudhitha mettu adavu: Kudhitha mettu means to jump and beat.
Both the feet are raised on the toes with a jump and strike the
floor together with the heels. There are four in this group. The
sollukattu is Tai hat tai hi.
6. Sarakkal adavu: Sarakkal is to slide. The foot is made to
slide without raising it from the floor and join the other foot
in the sthanaka [standing] position. One foot is raised on the
heel and both beat the floor with a slight jump. There are four
variations and the sollukattu is Tai ya tai hi.
7. Teermana Adavu: Teermana means to conclude or finish. These
steps are used to end a group of steps and are usually repeated
thrice. Tari kita tomand ta dhing ginna tomare the sollukatta
for this group. They will be divided into two groups - variations in the tai taidhit dhit tai are five and the usual
ending steps in the three format are two.
8. Tattu metta adavu: Tattu matta means to strike and beat. The
foot strikes the floor and is raised on the toes and beats the
floor with the heel. There are five variations to match the five
basic talas, ta ka di mi [4], ta ki ta [3], ta ka ta ki ta [5],
ta ka di mi ta ki ta [7], ta ka di mi ta ka ta ki ta [9].
9. Shutru adavu: Shutru means to whirl. This group of adavus
involves swirling movements. There are four in this group. The
sollukattu being tat tai tam dhit tai tam.
10. Mandi adavu: Mandi means knee and this group of steps
consists of one knee resting on the floor while balancing the
body on the toes. This group of steps will be combined with the
Katta - Shimir adavu. Katta means enclose and shimir means to
open. These steps have expansive hand movements that suggest
opening an enclosed movement. Altogether there are eight
variations. Tai tyam ta tais the sollukattu used.
11. Mai adavu : Mai means body. The movement of the entire body
is the important feature.
12. Periya adavu: Periya means big. These steps are used to
cover long areas on the stage. |
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Head Movements: Siro Bheda.
1. Samamu - Straight.
2. Udvahitamu - Up.
3. Adho Mukhamu - Down.
4. Alolitamu - Circular.
5. Shutamu - Right & Left.
6. Kampitamu - Up & Down
7. Paravrutamu - Side.
8. Uttikshmu - Side up.
9. Parivahitamu - Both sides like a fan. |
Eye Movements: Drusti
Bheda.
1. Samam - Straight.
2. Alokitamu - Circular.
3. Sachi - Place to end.
4. Pralokitamu - Side to side.
5. Nimilitamu - Half eyes [lowered eyelids].
6. Ullokitamu - Up.
7. Anuvritamu - Up & down.
8. Avalokitamu - Down.
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Neck Movements :
1. Sundari - Side to side.
2. Tirachenamu - Like a snake.
3. Parivartitamu - Half circle.
4. Prakampitamu - Front & back.
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Double Hand Gestures:
Samyukta Hastas.
1. Anjali - Salutation.
2. Kapotha - Pigeon.
3. Kartakam - Karkata.
4. Swastika - Crossed.
5. Dola - Swing. [not in the DVD]
6. Pushpaputaka - Handful of flowers.
7. Shivalinga - Symbol for Shiva
8. Shivalinga - Symbol for Shiva. |
9. Kataka Vardhana.
10. Kartari Swastika - Crossed Scissors.
11. Chataka - Cart [not in the DVD].
12. Shankha - Conch
13. Chakra - Disc.
14. Samputa - Covered Box.
15. Pasha - Cord.
16. Kilaka - Bond. |
17. Matsya - Fish
18. Kurma - Tortoise.
19. Varaha - Boar.
20. Garuda - Eagle
21. Nagabandha - Sepernt Heads.
22. Katva - Bed.
23. Bherunda - Pair of birds.
24. Avahitta - Dissimulation [not in the DVD]. |
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Costumes:
Dancers of classical dances of India are the most visually
attractive. Colorful silks and saree materials are used to
create custom clothing. For Bharata Natyam, these outfits are
made in pant or skirt style. These dresses should enhance the
elegance and modesty of the dancer whether male or female. |
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Jewelry:
Classical dancers of India wear jewelry almost from head to toe.
The most sought out and expensive jewelry is called Temple
jewelry. Imitation and inexpensive jewelry is also available.
1. Head Jewelry [Thalai Saamann] : Three prong piece that
outlines the forehead and placed on the hairline. Sun and moon
button are also added on the top of the head. Sun should be worn
on the right side of the dancer's head.
2. Braid : Long false hair braid piece is woven in with the real
hair of the female dancer and a tassel [kunjalam or kuchulu]
hangs at the end. Usual length of the braid and the tassel
should be just below the hips of the female dancer. A decorated
bun [Raakodi] is atted on the head just above the braid. This is
secured by many hair pins. Artificial flower garlands [white and
orange] are circularly arranged around the bun and secured with
many pins.
3. Nose rings such as Mookuthi, Bullaku and Naththu can be worn
by the female dancers.
4. Long necklace and choker are worn by both male and female
dancers.
5. Bangles and Vankis [armlets] are also worn by both male and
female dancers. Male dancers wear very simple big bracelet
instead of bangles.
6. Waist belt or Odyaanam is worn around the waist.
7. Bells [Chalangi or gajjelu] are worn around the ankles.
Female dancers could also wear silver or gold ankletts. |
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Make - Up:
Foundation slightly lighter in tone is applied on
the face, neck, ears and hands of the dancer to create and even
and clear tone. The eye brows and eyes are drawn with a black
pencil or liquid liner with lot of care to define and beautify
the facial features. The lips are colored in bright red wiht
lipstick. Eye shadow, mascara and rouge could also be used. The
finger tips, toes and the outline of the feet are outlined with
red liquid [Altha or ink] or markers [washable]. Beautiful
designs can applied on the palms and on the top of the feet. |
