Bharatanatyam as Dance + Wellness: Rejuvenating Mind & Body
Bharatantayam and other classical art in India find their roots in the ‘Natyashastra’. In order to understand what ‘Natya shastra’ is, one must be acquainted with the basic understanding of what are the ‘Vedas’. The word Veda in Sanskrit means knowledge. The 4 Vedas are ancient Indian texts giving out knowledge of the highest spiritual level. The knowledge of the Vedas was passed on from one generation to the other through oral transmission, before it was finally archived in written form during the Vedic period in India.
It is believed that during this period a 5th Veda was created, which combined the essence of the four Vedas and was not only pure literature but also included music, poetry, theatre and dance. This was called the ‘Natya Veda’ , which was later codified into the compilation called ‘Natya shastra’ , that used performing arts as a tool to convey the Vedic knowledge.
The Natyashastra is composed of 36 chapters and gives a detailed description of theatre building and stage, genres of acting, body movements ,dance technique, make up and costumes, theory of poetry and use of voice, the musical scales, musical instruments and aesthetics.
By understanding this history, it is clear that Indian classical dance is an art form created with a clear intention of encouraging spiritual upliftment and developing humility and gratitude within the dancer. Transcending the ego through music and dance is the main objective. Dance becomes a means of introspection and is not just mere entertainment.
Bharatanatyam training begins with tuning of the body – using the correct posture, being aware of every body part and understanding how different movements and postures create different emotions. It then moves to understanding human emotions & the changes it has on our psychological state. Through regular practice and by using the technique of repetition the dancer becomes completely aware of the body, the body – mind becomes fully aligned and the dancer transcends into a realm beyond the physical. This is Yog (union) – the path towards non duality.