Bharatanatyam Theory Books: How to Find, Download, and Read them for Free
Bharatanatyam Theory Books Free Download
If you are interested in learning or improving your skills in Bharatanatyam, one of the most ancient and graceful classical dance forms of India, you might be looking for some Bharatanatyam theory books to help you understand the concepts and techniques behind this art form. But where can you find them? And how can you download them for free? In this article, we will answer these questions and more. We will explain what Bharatanatyam is, why you need Bharatanatyam theory books, and how to download them for free.
bharatanatyam theory books free download
What is Bharatanatyam?
Bharatanatyam is a traditional dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India. It is one of the eight classical dance forms recognized by the Indian government. It is based on the ancient texts of Natya Shastra, a treatise on performing arts written by sage Bharata Muni. The word Bharatanatyam is derived from the Sanskrit words "Bharata" (the author of Natya Shastra), "Natyam" (dance), and "Marga" (path or way).
The history and origin of Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam has a long and rich history that dates back to more than 2000 years ago. It was originally performed in Hindu temples as a form of worship and devotion to the gods and goddesses. It was also a way of expressing the stories and legends from Hindu mythology and scriptures. The dancers who performed Bharatanatyam were called Devadasis, meaning "servants of God". They were highly respected and trained in various arts such as music, literature, and dance.
However, during the colonial period, Bharatanatyam faced a decline due to the oppression and discrimination by the British rulers. They banned the practice of Devadasi system and labeled it as immoral and vulgar. Many Devadasis were forced to abandon their art or resort to prostitution. Fortunately, some reformers and revivalists such as Rukmini Devi Arundale, E. Krishna Iyer, Balasaraswati, and others worked hard to preserve and promote Bharatanatyam as a respectable and dignified art form. They established institutions, schools, and organizations to teach and perform Bharatanatyam across India and abroad.
The main elements and features of Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam is a complex and intricate dance form that requires a lot of practice, dedication, and discipline. It consists of three main elements: Nritta (pure dance), Nritya (expressive dance), and Natya (dramatic dance). Nritta involves the execution of rhythmic patterns and movements using various body parts such as feet, hands, eyes, head, etc. Nritya involves the expression of emotions, moods, feelings, and meanings using facial expressions, gestures, postures, etc. Natya involves the enactment of stories, characters, themes, etc. using both Nritta and Nritya.
Bharatanatyam also has some distinctive features that make it unique and beautiful. Some of them are:
The use of a half-sitting posture called Aramandi or Ardhamandala, which requires bending the knees outward while keeping the spine erect.
The use of intricate footwork called Adavus, which involves stamping the feet on the floor in different rhythms and patterns.
The use of hand gestures called Mudras or Hastas, which convey various meanings and symbols.
The use of eye movements called Drishti or Nethrabhinaya, which enhance the expression and communication with the audience.
The use of costumes and ornaments that reflect the traditional culture and aesthetics of Tamil Nadu.
The benefits and challenges of learning Bharatanatyam
Learning Bharatanatyam can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience for anyone who loves dance and culture. Some of the benefits of learning Bharatanatyam are:
It improves your physical fitness, flexibility, stamina, coordination, balance, posture, etc.
It enhances your mental health, creativity, concentration, memory, confidence, etc.
It enriches your cultural knowledge, appreciation, awareness, respect, etc.
It provides you with opportunities to perform, showcase your talent, express yourself, etc.
However, learning Bharatanatyam also comes with some challenges that you need to overcome. Some of them are:
It requires a lot of time, effort, patience, commitment, discipline etc.
It demands a high level of skill mastery , perfection , precision , accuracy , etc.
It involves a lot of pain , discomfort , injuries , fatigue , etc.
It faces a lot of competition , criticism , comparison , pressure , etc.
Why do you need Bharatanatyam theory books?
If you are serious about learning or improving your skills in Bharatanatyam , you might wonder why you need to read some Bharatanatyam theory books . After all , isn't dance all about practice ? Well , yes , practice is essential , but so is theory . Theory helps you understand the concepts , principles , techniques , history , culture , etc . behind this dance form . Theory also helps you appreciate , analyze , evaluate , interpret , etc . this dance form . Theory also helps you communicate , teach , write , research , etc . about this dance form . In short , theory complements practice .
The importance of theory in Bharatanatyam
Theory is important in Bharatanatyam for many reasons . Some of them are :
Theory gives you a solid foundation on which you can build your practical skills . It teaches you the basics such as terminology , notation , classification , structure , etc . that you need to know before you start dancing .
Theory gives you a deeper insight into the meaning and purpose behind each movement , gesture , expression , etc . that you perform . It teaches you how to convey emotions , messages , stories , etc . through your body language .
Theory gives you a broader perspective on the evolution and diversity of this dance form . It teaches you how this dance form has changed over time due to various influences such as social , political , religious , artistic , etc . It also teaches you how this dance form has different styles such as Kalakshetra , Pandanallur , Vazhuvoor , Tanjore , etc .
Theory gives you a richer appreciation for the beauty and grace of this dance form . It teaches you how this dance form is based on aesthetics such as Rasa (sentiment) , Bhava (mood) , Abhinaya (expression) , Shringara (love) etc . It also teaches you how this dance form is based on mathematics such as Tala (rhythm) Chhandas (meter) Laya (tempo) Jati (pattern) etc .
The types and contents of Bharatanatyam theory books
Bharatanatyam theory books can be classified into different types based on their contents . Some of them are :
TypeContents
TextbooksThese are books that provide comprehensive information on various aspects of Bharatanatyam such as history origin elements features styles techniques etc . They are usually written by experts scholars teachers etc . They are suitable for beginners students teachers etc . Some examples are :
- Bharatanatyam: How to... by Jayalakshmi Eshwar- Bharatanatyam: An In-Depth Study by Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam
BiographiesThese are books that narrate the life stories of famous and influential Bharatanatyam dancers such as their background achievements challenges contributions etc . They are usually written by themselves their relatives their disciples etc . They are suitable for inspiration motivation admiration etc . Some examples are :
- A Life in Dance: Rukmini Devi Arundale by Leela Samson- Balasaraswati: Her Art and Life by Douglas M. Knight Jr.- My Journey: A Tale of Two Births by Alarmel Valli
CritiquesThese are books that analyze and evaluate the performances and works of Bharatanatyam dancers and artists such as their strengths weaknesses styles innovations etc . They are usually written by critics reviewers journalists etc . They are suitable for learning improvement appreciation etc . Some examples are :
- The Eye of the Beholder: Indian Writing on Dance by Ashish Khokar- Dance Matters: Performing India on Local and Global Stages by Pallabi Chakravorty and Nilanjana Gupta- Dance Dialects of India by Ragini Devi
GuidesThese are books that provide practical tips and advice on how to learn and perform Bharatanatyam such as exercises warm-ups costumes makeup diet etc . They are usually written by experienced dancers teachers coaches etc . They are suitable for practice preparation performance etc . Some examples are :
- The Art of Teaching Bharatanatyam by Srekala Bharath- The Complete Guide to Bharatanatyam Adavus by Anjali Nandan- The Essential Guide to Stage Makeup for Bharatanatyam by Priya Ravishankar
The best sources and methods to access Bharatanatyam theory books
Bharatanatyam theory books can be accessed from various sources and methods depending on your preference and convenience. Some of them are:
Libraries: You can visit your local or online libraries and borrow or read Bharatanatyam theory books from their collections. You can also request them to order or reserve the books that you want.
Bookstores: You can visit your nearby or online bookstores and buy or browse Bharatanatyam theory books from their shelves. You can also ask them to recommend or suggest the books that you need.
Online platforms: You can visit various online platforms such as websites, blogs, forums, social media, etc. and download or read Bharatanatyam theory books from their links. You can also interact with other users and share or exchange the books that you have.
Dancers and teachers: You can contact your favorite or local Bharatanatyam dancers and teachers and ask them to lend or give you Bharatanatyam theory books from their personal collections. You can also learn from their experiences and insights.
How to download Bharatanatyam theory books for free?
If you want to download Bharatanatyam theory books for free, you might face some challenges such as finding the right books, avoiding illegal or unethical downloads, ensuring the quality and safety of the downloads, etc. However, there are some ways to overcome these challenges and download Bharatanatyam theory books for free. Here are some tips and tricks:
The legal and ethical issues of downloading Bharatanatyam theory books for free
Before you download any Bharatanatyam theory book for free, you need to be aware of the legal and ethical issues involved. Some of them are:
Copyright: You need to respect the rights and ownership of the authors, publishers, distributors, etc. of the Bharatanatyam theory books. You need to check if they have given permission or license to download their books for free or not. You also need to avoid copying, distributing, selling, modifying, etc. their books without their consent.
Plagiarism: You need to acknowledge the sources and references of the Bharatanatyam theory books that you download for free. You need to avoid using their ideas, words, images, etc. as your own without giving proper credit or citation.
Quality: You need to ensure that the Bharatanatyam theory books that you download for free are authentic, accurate, reliable, updated, etc. You need to avoid downloading fake, outdated, incomplete, incorrect, etc. books that might mislead or confuse you.
Safety: You need to ensure that the Bharatanatyam theory books that you download for free are secure, virus-free, malware-free, spam-free, etc. You need to avoid downloading harmful, infected, corrupted, etc. files that might damage your device or data.
The websites and platforms that offer free Bharatanatyam theory books
There are many websites and platforms that offer free Bharatanatyam theory books for download. However, not all of them are trustworthy or reliable. You need to be careful and selective when choosing them. Here are some examples of websites and platforms that offer free Bharatanatyam theory books:
Archive.org: This is a non-profit digital library that provides access to millions of free books , including Bharatanatyam theory books , in various formats such as PDF , EPUB , MOBI , etc . You can search , browse , download , read , etc . the books from this website .
Openlibrary.org: This is an open , editable library catalog that provides access to thousands of free books , including Bharatanatyam theory books , in various formats such as PDF , EPUB , MOBI , etc . You can search , browse , download , read , etc . the books from this website .
Gutenberg.org: This is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works that provides access to over 60 ,000 free ebooks , including Bharatanatyam theory books , in various formats such as PDF , EPUB , MOBI , etc . You can search , browse , download , read , etc . the ebooks from this website .
Bharatnatyammagazine.com: This is an online magazine dedicated to Bharatanatyam that provides access to free articles , interviews , reviews , news , events , etc . related to this dance form . You can also download some free ebooks on Bharatanatyam from this website .
Narthaki.com: This is an online portal for Indian classical dance that provides access to free articles , interviews , reviews , news , events , etc . related to various dance forms including Bharatanatyam . You can also download some free ebooks on Indian classical dance from this website .
The tips and tricks to download Bharatanatyam theory books for free
Here are some tips and tricks to download Bharatanatyam theory books for free:
Use a good internet connection and a reliable device to download the books smoothly and quickly.
Use a good browser and a good downloader software or app to download the books easily and safely.
Use a good antivirus software or app to scan and protect your device and data from any potential threats.
Use a good file manager software or app to organize and manage your downloaded files efficiently.
Use a good reader software or app to open and read your downloaded files comfortably.
Use a good converter software or app to convert your downloaded files into different formats if needed.
Use a good printer software or app to print your downloaded files if needed.
Delete any unwanted or unnecessary files after downloading them to save space on your device.
Backup your important files on a cloud service or an external storage device in case of any loss or damage.
Share your downloaded files with others only if you have permission or license from the authors or publishers.
Conclusion
A summary of the main points of the article
In this article, we have discussed what Bharatanatyam is, why you need Bharatanatyam theory books, and how to download them for free. We have learned that:
footwork), Mudras (hand gestures), Drishti (eye movements), etc.
Bharatanatyam theory books are books that provide comprehensive information on various aspects of Bharatanatyam such as history, origin, elements, features, styles, techniques, etc. They are important for learning, understanding, appreciating, analyzing, evaluating, interpreting, communicating, teaching, writing, researching, etc. this dance form. They can be classified into different types based on their contents such as textbooks, biographies, critiques, guides, etc.
Bharatanatyam theory books can be downloaded for free from various sources and methods such as libraries, bookstores, online platforms, dancers and teachers, etc. However, there are some legal and ethical issues involved such as copyright, plagiarism, quality, safety, etc. that need to be respected and avoided. There are also some tips and tricks to download Bharatanatyam theory books for free such as using a good internet connection, browser, downloader, antivirus, file manager, reader, converter, printer, backup service, etc.
A call to action for the readers
We hope that this article has helped you learn more about Bharatanatyam and how to download Bharatanatyam theory books for free. If you are interested in learning or improving your skills in Bharatanatyam , we encourage you to read some Bharatanatyam theory books and practice along with them . You can also watch some Bharatanatyam performances online or offline and learn from them . You can also join some Bharatanatyam classes or workshops and learn from professional dancers and teachers . You can also participate in some Bharatanatyam events or competitions and showcase your talent and passion . You can also create your own Bharatanatyam blog or channel and share your knowledge and experience with others . The possibilities are endless . All you need is curiosity , enthusiasm , and dedication . So , what are you waiting for ? Start your Bharatanatyam journey today and enjoy the beauty and grace of this dance form . Happy dancing !
FAQs
What is the difference between Bharatanatyam and other classical dance forms of India?
Bharatanatyam is one of the eight classical dance forms of India recognized by the Indian government. The other seven are Kathak , Kathakali , Kuchipudi , Manipuri , Mohiniyattam , Odissi , and Sattriya . Each dance form has its own history , origin , elements , features , styles , techniques , etc . that make it unique and distinctive . Some of the differences between Bharatanatyam and other classical dance forms are :
Bharatanatyam originated in Tamil Nadu , while Kathak originated in North India , Kathakali originated in Kerala , Kuchipudi originated in Andhra Pradesh , Manipuri originated in Manipur , Mohiniyattam originated in Kerala , Odissi originated in Odisha , and Sattriya originated in Assam .
Bharatanatyam is based on the ancient texts of Natya Shastra by Bharata Muni , while Kathak is based on the ancient texts of Natya Shastra by Abhinavagupta , Kathakali is based on the ancient texts of Hastalakshana Deepika by unknown author , Kuchipudi is based on the ancient texts of Nritta Ratnavali by Jayapa Senani , Manipuri is based on the ancient texts of Sangeet Ratnakara by Sarangadeva , Mohiniyattam is based on the ancient texts of Hasta Lakshana Deepika by unknown author , Odissi is based on the ancient texts of Abhinaya Chandrika by Maheshwara Mahapatra , and Sattriya is based on the ancient texts of Sangeet Ratnakara by Sarangadeva .
, Odissi has a tribhanga posture called Tribhangi or Abhanga , and Sattriya has a straight posture called Sama or Sthanaka .
Bharatanatyam has intricate footwork called Adavus , while Kathak has fast footwork called Tatkar , Kathakali has powerful footwork called Kalasams , Kuchipudi has graceful footwork called Jatis , Manipuri has soft footwork called Thang-Ta , Mohiniyattam has gentle footwork called Adavus , Odissi has rhythmic footwork called Pada Bheda , and Sattriya has energetic footwork called Mati Akhara .
Bharatanatyam has hand gestures called Mudras or Hastas , while Kathak has hand gestures called Mudras or Hastaks , Kathakali has hand gestures called Mudras or Hastas , Kuchipudi has hand gestures called Mudras or Hastas , Manipuri has hand gestures called Mudras or Kartal Lakshan , Mohiniyattam has hand gestures called Mudras o