Bharatnatyam is a major branch of classical Indian dance, which originated centuries ago in Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. It has flourished in the courts and temples of south India since ancient days. There are several versions of Bharatnatyam performed today by trained dancers, musicians and singers in various cities of India. Some of them have gained popularity in urban centers like Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore and other cities of India.
Bharatnatyam dancers have an amazing ability to replicate human gestures and body movements using smooth, flowing body movements. These gestures are generally made on the dance floor as the music and clapping from the accompanists and dancers mesmerize the audience. Footwork, lunges, twists and turns, all of these are part of the routines of Bharat natyam. A skilled dancer can replicate almost any move or posture on the classical floor. There are two forms of Bharatnatyam: one is the sadhu (pious) version and the other is the salary (compassionate) version.
Many modern day Bharatnatyam dancers are influenced by the other classical Indian dance forms and choreographers incorporate these traditional Indian moves in their own dance shows. There are many popular Bharat Natyam styles. All these dances have their own unique dancing style and are performed with dedication and emotion in dedicated performances. Watching these dance performances can be an inspiring experience for a person who is looking to practice this art form in future.