Bharatanatyam is a dance from Tamil Nadu, in the south of India. It began in the temples, where dancers offered their art to the gods.
In the 1930s, artists such as Rukmini Devi Arundale helped bring the dance to the concert stage, so that everyone could enjoy it.
The dancer sits halfway down, with her knees bent and turned out. This pose is called araimandi. It looks easy, but it takes lots of practice!
Her feet strike the floor in fast, clear beats, while her hands make shapes called mudras. One hand shape can become a lotus, a deer or a bow.
A teacher called the nattuvanar keeps the time with small cymbals and calls out rhythm words. A singer, a violin and a drum called the mridangam play the music.
Dancers also tell stories with their faces and eyes. Try telling a tiny story with only your hands and your eyes.
The big ideaA little practice every day makes hard things feel graceful.
Talk about it: Can you show a lotus, a bird or a bow with just your hands?
