indian dance
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Bharatanatyam is the oldest of all classical dance forms in India and it is very
popular. It is extremely traditional and known for its grace, purity, tenderness, and
statuesque poses. The dance uplifts both mind and soul for the dancer and the
beholder. The dancer embodies beauty, charm and gracefulness. The art form has
gone through a lot of changes in the past 2000 years. In the beginning it was strictly
performed by mostly females and it was only performed in the temples. The dancers
were called Devadasis (servant of God) and they were accomplished artists who would
sing, dance, and play many instruments. A Devadasi dedicated all her life to the
temple and its activities. All the dancers knew Sanskrit and other languages which
helped them interpret the compositions they had to perform.
When the Devadasis lost their position in the society, the classical dance
tradition came to an end...