BASIC TERMS -- 1

BHA bhavam meaning expression

RA ragam meaning melody

TA talam meaning rhythm or beat

NATYAM dance

Name of your Institution

KALAIRANI NATYA SAALAI Queen of Arts' dance school

Respect

MATA PITA GURU DEVA Mother Father Teacher God

Three parts in you

ABHINAYA expression -- same as Bhavam

MUDRA or HASTA hand gesture

ADAVU footwork

Three speed

VILAMBA slow

MADHYA medium

DRUT fast

Three aspects of Bharatanatyam

NRITTA pure footwork

NRITYA footwork and abhinaya (expression)

NATYA story and drama -- theme

Posture

SAMAM or STANAKA stand straight

MANDALA or MANDI unique dance posture to show the fan (V Shape)

ARAMANDI & MULUMANDI half way and fully down

ANGA HASTA body movement

Words

JATI rhythmic words (chant)

SOLLUKATTU a group of jati

THEERMANAM or

MAGUDA ADAVU or MUTHAYE highlight (crown) steps that come at the end

Teaching

GURU teacher -- should be referred as 'Guruji'

NATTUVANGAM the specialized art of chanting to the exact beat

NATTUVANAAR the person who does the nattuvangam

THATTU KAZHI the wooden stick used in class

MRIDANGAM the drum instrument used for Bharatanatyam

ARANGETRAM

Or RANGA-PRAVESHAM professional entrance on to the public stage

Origin

NADARAJA the god of dance (Shiva)

BHARATAMUNI the sage who started Bharatanatyam

NATYA SHASTRA the dance book recorded in 2nd century

• Science of Dramaturgy