Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.s1.t7.5

v2.c11.s1.t7.5

The traditional Bharatanatyam has several fixed parts in its performance process. Usually, Alarippu is the first part, meaning the blossoming of flower buds. Jati Swaram represents the perfect combination of rhythm and musical notes, which is absolute dance in the second part. From the third part - Shabdam, dancers begin to show the technique of narrative performance. Shabdam means vocabulary, which is the basic unit of the language, thus meaning the early stage of narrative performance. Varnam is the most important part of traditional Bharatanatyam, with absolute dance and narrative performance alternating, and the lasting time is longer, between 30 minutes and an hour. Varna is the touchstone of dancing level, so only independently accomplishing this part can dancers continue to learn. Then, there is Kiltanam with fast rhythm, and Padam with soothing and lyrical performance (Abhinaya), and the last part is Tillana, namely, the end of absolute dance. In the end, there are a few lines of a poem, accompanyed with a difficult dance and a fast rhythm.