In Reply to: In response to Aniruddhan Vasudevan’s article ‘What is “not Bharatanatyam”’ posted by anjali on January 23, 2006 at 06:43:02:

 I agree with Aniruddhan Vasudevan that Bharathanatyam is, in its structure and in its so-called name, 'a 20th century phenomenon'. I am sure every dancer would agree that only after the format made by the tanjore quartet, Bharathanatyam began to exist in the form as it is being practiced now and that it was presented earlier as sadir. But are we dancing the same kind of movements in the same way that were done in those days? To sight an example, we do see glimpses of BHARATANATYAM movements in our yesteryear movies and these were choreographed by gurus who marked traditions, like Vazhuvoor Ramaih Pillai and K.N. Dandayudapani Pillai. I am sure that none of the present-day dancers performs the same way. What we see in those movies and now on stage "are" called BHARATANATYAM.

Bharatanatyam has undergone massive changes since then and I would say, Bharatanatyam, being an art form, should undergo changes and evolve with time. If it is static, it is as good as dead.

I also wish to add that dancers are not under any pressure to innovate. Whatever the gurus in those days were trying to do are being continued by most of present-day choreographers. Whatever was innovated by the gurus then are now the various traditions that we follow? Otherwise, we would not have had the Vazhuvoor or the Tanjavoor or the Pandanallur styles. I don't mean to state that the dancers/choreographers these days are aiming at setting and compartmentalising traditions. Who knows, even the gurus who created traditions weren't aiming at that?! It's their individual creativities that formed traditions. Every Bharatanatyam dancer will do a KITATHAKTHARIKITATHOM or a THAT THAI THAA HA in their repertoire in keeping with their tradition or style or paani. And I am sure that this same KITATHAKATHARIKITATHOM or THAT THAI THAA HA were new when they were created and of course the audiences then weren't used to seeing. Doesn't it form a part of the Bharatanatyam adavu system now. Yes, I am sure we, as audiences, do sort of know now what Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi or any other Indian classical dance form is since they are being practiced and presented with their respective adavus, bhangis, charis etc. And I am also sure no dancer will take the risk of doing a Kuchipudi or an Odissi movement 'in the same way' as it is being executed in its original style, in a Bharatanatyam jathi or theermanam. I am not here to talk about those CUT-COPY-PASTE choreographers but about genuinely creative choreographers. As long as the movement that is performed does not hinder the style that is perceived as Bharatanatyam, I am sure no one will say its "not Bharatanatyam." The question is how much of external influence is internalised and how much of it stands out. Being a Bharatanatyam dancer myself, I think it is necessary for dancers/choreographers to take such trials for redefining the limits of the art form as it evolves. Whether they succeed or not, time will tell.

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