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 -

How to do Nattadavu 5th step - Step by step instructions -

I. Leg Movements

1. Begin by sitting in Aramandi
2. Lift you RIGHT LEG by pointing your toes and imagining that your heels are touching your behind. Place the right heel in front on you (right knee straight, left leg in Araimandi) (count 1)
3. Hit the LEFT LEG in same position. (count 2)
4. Lift the RIGHT LEG up in the same way as step 2 and hit back to original Aramandi position. (count 3)
5. Hit LEFT LEG in same position. (count 4)
6. Lift RIGHT LEG up - this time stretch your toes out while aiming the heel at your behind - place the right heel to the right side of the body - knee straight. (left leg sitting in Aramandi) (count 5)
7. Lift  RIGHT LEG up and hit back to original position. (count 6)
8. Lift RIGHT LEG up - this time stretch your toes out while aiming the heel at your behind - place the right heel to the right side of the body - knee straight. (left leg sitting in Aramandi) (count 7)
9. Lift  RIGHT LEG up and hit back to original position. (count 8)

 {This was the RIGHT SIDE of the step. Repeat same thing on your left side too}

II. Hand Movements

1. Begin by placing both hand in front of your chest in Katakamukha hand gesture. Elbows shouldn't droop.
2. As RIGHT LEG moves forward, bend from your hip down and take BOTH HANDS down to your feet in Alapadmam hand gesture.
3. Hit LEFT LEG in same position as (3).
4. As RIGHT LEG comes back to original position, bring back BOTH HANDS to original position, viz Katakamukha in front of your chesy.
5. Hit LEFT LEG in same position as (4).
6. As RIGHT LEG moves to right side, stretch BOTH HANDS out to the side of your body at shoulder level in Tripataka gesture - palm facing down AND turn your RIGHT ARM to face the RIGHT PALM up.
7. As you hit the RIGHT LEG back to original position, turn the RIGHT PALM down.
8. As RIGHT LEG moves out again, turn RIGHT PALM up.
9. As RIGHT LEG comes back, turn RIGHT PALM down again.

{This was the RIGHT SIDE of the step. Repeat the same in Left Side too}

Notes

1. Do the step in 3 speeds
2. The 2nd part of the step, viz. taking the leg to the side of the body & back is exactly like 2nd step of Nattadavu.

Hand Gestures Used in this step are -

source: Katakamukha

source: Alapadma

source: Tripataka

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