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About Natyam
Originally founded by Ritvik Bhattacharjee in November 2017, Natyam began with a group of three students at The University of Texas at Austin who all shared a common love for Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, and wanted to maintain the classical richness and purity of these two art forms. Through performances around the UT campus, we expose numerous audiences to these forms of dance and give them a glimpse into some of the fine arts from our Indian heritage.
Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi
Bharatanatyam:
Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest and most popular classical dance forms of India, dating back approximately 2000 years. It originated in the temples of Southern India, particularly in the state of Tamil Nadu. Devdasis, or female temple servants, used to perform Bharatanatyam as a form of worship to the deities of the temple. The name “Bharatanatyam” has 4 stems from Sanskrit with significant meaning. Bha— refers to bhavam or expression; ra—refers to raagam or melody; ta—refers to taalam or rhythm; natyam means dance. Bharatanatyam features complex and rhythmic footwork, crisp movement of the limbs, as well as expressive story telling through several facial expressions, eye movements, and hand gestures.
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Kuchipudi:
Kuchipudi received its name from the village of Kuchipudi, in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, where it was originally born. Kuchipudi was originally created and performed by Brahmin males as a collaborative dance drama to tell stories from Indian folklore and Hindu scriptures. Performers used to sing and dance at the same time and give several narrations throughout the performances to the audience. Like Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi went through several revisions, especially in the 18th and 19th century, where several items were added into the repertoire, and it could be performed as a solo dance instead of a group dance drama. In the 20th century, women began practicing the art form as it picked up popularity.
Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam share many similarities, including the same hand gestures, similar costumes, and reenactment of great Hindu epics. However, there are some distinct differences between these two art forms. Firstly, the steps (adavus) of Bharatanatyam are extremely rigid and follow many straight lines and patterns; in kuchipudi, the steps feature brisk, abrupt footwork, and more fluid movements of the torso. Additionally, kuchipudi requires the use of Vachikam Abhinayam which refers to lip syncing to the music (this is a remnant from the era where kuchipudi dancers would sing while dancing). Lastly, kuchipudi features a special type of dance called the tarangam, where the dancer dances on a brass plate and sometimes balances a pot of water on his or her head.