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 Bharatanatyam Repertoire
ALARIPPU
Alarippu, an invocatory dance, literally translates to “blossoming forth". It is traditionally the first dance performed during a show and is also the first dance that Bharatantyam students learn. It can be set to one of 5 rhythmic patterns. Alarippu expresses respect to god, the teacher and the audience. It usually starts with the dancer standing upright in first position (parallel) with his/her arms in “anjali hasta” above his/her head. The dancer then uses graceful neck, shoulder and arm movement before transitioning into bharatanatyam’s signature sitting stance known as aramandi. It typically ends in a seated “mandi” position. The dance accelerates in tempo as it progresses.
VARNAM
Varnam is considered as the pinnacle moment in a show. It is a dance that involves intricate and complex movements and is the most elaborate piece of Bharatanatyam repertoire. It demands technical prowess and showcases a dancers adaptability as he/she must quickly transition between pure dance movements and expressive storytelling.
The varnam begins with "teermanams" (rhythmic patterns) that align with a repeated line of song. These rhythmic patterns vary in pace and are performed in 3 different speeds. Rhythmic syllables are chanted by an instructor, played by a mridangist (percussionist) and executed by the dancer. A dancers footwork is also be used to convey the songs narrative along with facial expressions and hand gestures.
PADAM
A padam showcases various facets of emotional relationships between the central female character (nayika) and the male counterpart (nayaka). The dance majorly employs abhinayas (expressions) to tell a story.
A large part of a padam focuses on the sentiment of “shringara” which is the emotion of love and romance. A padam conveys the desire of the nayika to unite with her beloved nayaka.
TILLANA
A Tillana serves as a form of pure dance (nritta) and contrasts the slower tempo of padams. Tillanas are characterized by their choreographic patterns that often form geometric shapes such as straight lines, triangles, rectangles, and diagonals.
In terms of structure, Tillanas feature a "pallavi" and "anupallavi" that primarily employ rhythmic syllables (sollukattu) and occasional musical notes (swaras).
The Tillana's precise movements and intricately woven sequences culminate in a powerful crescendo, providing a fitting climax to a Bharatanatyam performance.
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