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Re: Information Request: Bharatha Natya Arantetram
In article <4cge3r$jqv@babbage.ece.uc.edu>,
john dobbin <jdobbin@magna.com.au> wrote:
>"Bharatha Natya Arantetram" for their daughter who is a disciple of
>Smt Matathi Nagarajan.
>
>Can you please enlighten us to any cultural traditions or beliefs so that
>on attending we may enjoy the ceremony, and in no way offend the hosts.
The first performance of a classical dance student on stage is
known as Arange`tram in Tamil or "ranga -pravesham" in Telugu.
The only cultural tradition one must know is to heartily bless
the child, and show a little encouragement.
A few words about Bharata naatyam and books on dance:(these might
not be relevant directly to the enquiry here, but may be of interest
to learn before enjoying)
Bharata naatyam is the most oldest forms of indian classical dance
forms, and when it was almost getting extinct, it got rejuvinated
in Tamil Nadu, and hence is usually associated with that state.
There are 2000 year old texts describing classical dance in intricate
details. For example: Bharata Muni's "naatya S`aasthram" (the science
of dance). This is the most respected text on classical dance is
used by dancers of all classical dance forms of india, but the bharata
naatyam is known after this sage (muni = sage). There are other
classical books by Nandike`s`a , naarada and others. A book by
Jaya Senaani (Nritta ratnaavali) is also worth mentioning. There are
other books on some specific aspects of dance, namely music and instruments.
Naatya sastram describes a dance form which might resemble today's
dance dramas. The book is actually a treatise describing the hand-gestures,
eye movements, appropriate language for different characters in
a dance drama, appopriate dress, appropriate bckground music and everything
that one can think of dance, even in modern sense.
Dance consists of abhinayam and nrittamu. abhinayamu is that part of the
dance, wherein a dancer attempts to "convey" the meaning of the song or
dialogues through gestures and poses, eye movements etc, and above all
feelings. For example there are about 24 different hand gestures that
can be shown using only single hand are explained in the naatya sastram.
For example, again, with a thumb up, and rest of the fingers folded in,
the hand can be used to represent question mark, or surprise.
Similarly two dozen combination of both-hands-together gestures
are described in the book along with the contexts where they can
be appropriately used. This way, there are many hundreds of description
of movement of each of body-limbs for expressing meaning through
mere gestures and actions.
Nrittam is a form of "pure dance", an interesting display of command
over raaga-taala(the music and rythm) and footwork. In Bharata naatyam,
Nrittam is not expected to be designed to convey anything about the
theme of dance. it is just perfect rythem with matching postures and
foot work. But, a talented dancers can mould this pure dance to suit
to the rasa (feelings) of the context.
Bharatha naatyam program might consists of several items. but there is
some kind of ordering of items. it is a convention to follow the order.
however, in a program not all types of items might be present, but here
are some examples. The approximate order is like this:
(1) Sabhaa-namaskaram: It is showing respect to the forum, and usually
consist of three components: guru-namaskaaram (showing respects to guru
the teacher), bhagawannamasakarmu (respects to Gods, instruments, artists)
and sabhaa-namaskaaramu (respect to the audience). this is almost a
compulsory item and always the first. very brief.
(2) Ganapathi koutwam: Prayers to Ganapathi (elephant-headed god)
(3) God... i dont remember.... the name...
some thing like: thaa thai thai kita thaka. thaaam di.th.thaam
kita-thaka thai.. di ththai.
kita thaka thaam di thaaam.... etc
(Actually one hears this kind of rythemic recitations throughout the dance
program. these mridanga jathis, set to rythm or taala)
This is a pure dance form, and focuses on rythem. The song is tuned
on Mridanga jathis
This is almost a compulsory item in an "arange`tram" program
(5) Jathiswaram: More focus of music and musical notes and pure dance
(4) Shabdam : ditto.
(5) Varnam: Focus on classical vocal and abhinayam.
(6) Keerthanas etc: These are more focussed on abhinaya, and less on nritta.
(7) Tillana: usually last, but some times last-but-one item and is
intense in pure dance Nritta. Only a couple of lines of saahitya
(lyric?) with small bits of abhinaya will be towards the end, but
mostly is is very active display of dancers command over rythm.
(8) Mangalam: prayers seeking happyness all around.
Usual audience conduct: (no rules!)
Clap at the end of Each item, profusely if the performance is exceptional.
(i will clapp for every item). It is customary in indian programs to clap
only after the item is finished and the dancer is about to leave the stage
(for coming again for next item!). But these days, audience also clap
whenver a difficult pose(i dont like this word, but i dont know more
appropriate word) is shown, for example when tip of toe touches
the fore head, with entire body bending backwards... or when the dancer
bends her body in a cirular fashion... or when the dancer after a full
rythemic nritta at a high pace suddenly comes to stand still on a single
toe and manages a perfect balance. ... etc
Any gifts to carry?
No. not necessary, unless the child/student is very close, in which case
a shawl or bouquet might be considered. Best of all gifts, a hearty
appreciation.... remembering that aarange`tram is the student's first
performance... and needs and deserves all encouragement.
For SRH readers: the story is that Naatya veda is constructed by brahma
by combining riks from rigveda (high literary content), abhinaya from
yazur veda (have you seen yazur vedi performing sandhyaa vandanam?),
raaga from saama veda, and rasas from atharvana veda. The first dance
after naatya was invented was Indra-aro`hana -- the throning ceremony
of indra. Raakshasa get angry and start destrying the theatres and stages
saying it deva-biased. Then brahma explains that naatya is most secular
of all education, and can be equally used by raaskhasas too for their
themes.
Nandi ke`sa is supposed to have learnt the principles of dance from
watching shiva's taandavam. Parvathi is said to have taught dance to
one of Krishna's relatives, i can't remember the name, but some
niece or so.
