Nattadavu Step 8 | Bharatanatyam Adavu | Natyakriya Episode 13

* If you are new to Bharatanatyam, I urge you to start from the beginning.
* If you haven't learned the previous steps of Nattadavu, click here & here.

Nattadavu is the 2nd set of steps (or ADAVU) in Bharatanatyam. Following the 6th step of Nattadavu, we move on to the 7th step.
The sollukattu (सोल्लुकट्टु) or Rhythmic syllables of is - Thaiyyum That Tha Thaiyyum Thaam

Here is the video tutorial -

Nattadavu Step 7 | Bharatanatyam Adavu | Natyakriya Episode 12

* If you are new to Bharatanatyam, I urge you to start from the beginning.
* If you haven't learned the previous steps of Nattadavu, click here & here.

Nattadavu is the 2nd set of steps (or ADAVU) in Bharatanatyam. Following the 6th step of Nattadavu, we move on to the 7th step.
The sollukattu (सोल्लुकट्टु) or Rhythmic syllables of is - Thaiyyum That Tha Thaiyyum Thaam

Here is the video tutorial -

Nattadavu Step 6 | Bharatanatyam Adavu | Natyakriya Episode 11

* If you are new to Bharatanatyam, I urge you to start from the beginning.
* If you haven't learned the previous steps of Nattadavu, click here & here.

Nattadavu is the 2nd set of steps (or ADAVU) in Bharatanatyam. Following the 5th step of Nattadavu, we move on to the 6th step. There are minute differences between the 5th & 6th steps of Nattadavu.

The sollukattu (सोल्लुकट्टु) or Rhythmic syllables of is - Thaiyyum That Tha Thaiyyum Thaam

Here is the video tutorial -

Nattadavu Step 5 | Bharatanatyam Adavu | Natyakriya Episode 10

* If you are new to Bharatanatyam, I urge you to start from the beginning.
* If you haven't learned the previous steps of Nattadavu, click here & here.

Nattadavu is the 2nd set of steps (or ADAVU) in Bharatanatyam. Having learned the first four steps in the previous episodes, we now proceed to the 5th step.

The sollukattu (सोल्लुकट्टु) or Rhythmic syllables of is - Thaiyyum That Tha Thaiyyum Thaam

Here is the video tutorial -

Nattadavu Steps 3, 4 | Bharatanatyam Adavu | Natyakriya Episode 09

We started off with Nattadavu steps 1 & 2 in the previous episode. Today we're going to seeing how to do Nattadavu (नाट्टडवु) {read: Naa-ttuh-duh-voo} steps 3 & 4.

Like the 1st & 2nd steps, 4th is just twice of the 3rd step. And the sollukattu (सोल्लुकट्टु) or Rhythmic syllables of is - Thaiyyum That Tha Thaiyyum Thaam

Here's a video tutorial - 

Nattadavu Steps 1, 2 | Bharatanatyam Adavus | Natyakriya Episode 08

We started off with the Namaskaram and learned the first set of steps called "Thattadavu". If you are a beginner, I urge you to start from the beginning to get an idea of the basic dance prayer, positions etc.

Today, we're going to be moving on to the second set of steps or Adavu known as "Nattadavu" (नाट्टडवु) {read: Naa-ttuh-duh-voo}. "Naattudhal" means "to  firmly root". In these steps, the HEEL is used as a PIVOT for stretching and hitting of the legs. Hand movements are incorporated for the first time. There are 8 variations (depending upon the style of dance) in this adavu.

The sollukattu (सोल्लुकट्टु) or Rhythmic syllables of Nattadavu is - Thaiyyum That Tha Thaiyyum Thaam

Here is the video tutorial on the first & second steps of Nattadavu.

Thattadavu Thaiyya Thai Steps 7,8 - Bharatanatyam 1st Adavu | Natyakriya Episode 07

Continuing on our Thattadavu series of steps, let's learn steps 7 & 8 today. Both these steps are slightly different than the previous 6 steps.

Here is the Video Tutorial -

Thattadavu Thaiyya Thai Steps 5,6 - Bharatanatyam 1st Adavu | Natyakriya Episode 06

Continuing on our Thattadavu series of steps, let's learn steps 5 & 6 today.

Here is the Video Tutorial -

Thattadavu Thaiyya Thai Steps 3,4 - Bharatanatyam 1st Adavu | Natyakriya Episode 05

We started learning the Thattadavu in our last class.
Continuing our lessons, we're going to be learning steps 3 & 4 of the same adavu. (There are 8 variations to this adavu. Read about them here.)

The sollukattu or rhythmic syllables of Thattadavu is - Thaiyya Thai

Here's a video tutorial of the 3rd & 4th steps of Thattadavu -

Thattadavu Thaiyya Thai 1 & 2 - Bharatanatyam 1st Adavu | Natyakriya Episode 04

The first adavu in Bharatanatyam is the Thattadavu (तट्टडवु) . It consists of 8 steps (or variations). This Adavu is performed by striking the floor with the feet one after the other. "Thattu" means to strike the floor flatly with the whole of the sole. Every step is done in the first, second & third speeds.

The sollukattu or rhythmic syllables of Thattadavu is - Thaiyya Thai

Here's a video tutorial of the1st & 2nd steps of Thattadavu -

Dhyana Shlokam (Dance Prayer) | Angikam Bhuvanam Yasya | Natyakriya Episode 03

source

Today, I'm going to tell y'll about Dhyaana Shlokam (read: dhi-yaa-nuh sh-loh-kum). It is traditional to start a dance practice with a dhyaana shlokam. 'DhyAna' is a Sanskrit word that means meditation and 'Shlokam' means a prayer.

This is a popular shloka in praise of Lord Shiva, who is said to be the King of Dance. The dancing form of Lord Shiva is known as 'Nataraja' (read: Nuh-tuh-raa-jaa).We have hand gestures (mudraas) for this Shlokam too. But we'll deal with that later.

Here's the video -

Bharatanatyam Postures or Positions | Samapadam, Aramandi, Muzhumandi | Natyakriya Episode 02

The three important positions in Bharatanatyam are -

1. Samapada (समपद)
2. Aramandi  or Ardha Mandalam (अर्ध मंडलम् )
3. Muzhu Mandi. (मुलु मण्डी )

A) Samapadam
A Bharatanatyam dancer begins from the samapada position which is a simple position in which the dancer's feet are facing forward, the body is erect - nether too relaxed nor too firm.

B) AraMandi / Arai Mandi / Ardha Mandalam
I'd say this is THE most important posture amongst the three. "Arai" is a Tamil word which means "Half" and "Mandi" means "to sit". Hence, this is a posture of Half-Sitting. Almost every step in Bharatanatyam will involve the dancer sitting in the Aramandi posture.

- In this posture, the dancer's heels are joined together, the toes of both legs pointed to the opposite direction. A straight line should form from one end of the toe to the other end.
- Then, the dancer squats halfway down, making sure to maintain the feet in same position. When the dancer sits this way, a diamond shape will form between the legs which must be maintained at all times for a good Arai mandi.

C) Muzhu Mandi
"Muzhu" {read: Moo-loo - twist up the tongue while saying "Zhu" (Loo)} - means "FULL". In this posture, the dancer sits down completely, maintaining the same feet positions as in Arai Mandi.

- Join hells and point toes to opposite directions
- Sit down on your toes while still making sure the heels are joined (or as close as possible)
- The thighs have to be stretched out in opposite directions and back erect

These are the three important positions in Bharata Natyam.