MAJOR CONSTITUENTS OF BHARATANATYAM

• Bharatnatyam is the Classical Dance style of Tamil Nadu.

• Although we have a very ancient dancing tradition behind us, the form that we see at present with the new nomenclature is only about 50-60 years old (Bharatnatyam was still called as Sadir).

• Bharatnatyam can be thought of as-consisting of 2 segments

Form (Grammar)
Content (Messages Conveyed)

• On stage, a dancer has about 1 to 2 hours to express herself. She performs about 6-7 pieces where she conveys a certain grammatical framework.
• The artist may want to convey a range of emotions – pathos, happiness, love, disgust (Bhava) and tell some intresting mythological anecdotes (Sanchari) – grammer of conveying this is Abhinaya.
• All work and no plays makes jack a dull boy. All emotions and stories and no breaks can make a programme dull. The breaks are the Adavu.

Thus, adavu is very important for dance. Without adavu the dance cannot be completed.