Bharatnatyam Classes in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois

About Bharatnatyam

Bharatnatyam is one of the oldest, most technically sophisticated, and most widely practiced classical dance forms of India, originating in the temples of Tamil Nadu in South India where it was performed as a sacred offering by Devadasis (temple dancers). Characterized by the geometric beauty of its fundamental standing position (aramandi), the precision of its complex footwork sequences (adavus), the expressiveness of an extensive vocabulary of hand gestures (mudras) and facial expressions (navarasas), and a profound integration with Carnatic classical music and Sanskrit poetry, Bharatnatyam is considered by many scholars to be the mother of all Indian classical dance forms. A complete education traditionally concludes with the Arangetram — an elaborate formal debut solo performance — undertaken after five to eight years of dedicated training. Bharatnatyam academies serving both South Asian diaspora communities and students of all backgrounds are found throughout the United States. Find a Bharatnatyam studio near you and begin this extraordinary classical journey today.