Indian dancing has an unbroken tradition. Bharat Natyam is the oldest form of dance practiced in Tamil Nadu, Tanjore and Chennai. Dance is done to the accompaniment of musical instruments. Originated in ancient times near Tanjore as temple dance of devadasis. It has been the most common national and classical dance art of India whose principles and techniques were systematized and codified about 18OO years ago in Bharat Muni's Natya shastra This ancient treaties has been followed by practitioners of Bharat Natyam to date. Modes of presentations have changed from time to time and from region to region but still it is fresh and fascinating and it commands admiration. Usually performed solo, there are many postures as specified in , the Bharat Natya sastra.

Bharat Natyam consists of two major hand positions, 12 hand movements; 13 symbolic gestures of head; nine of the neck, nine of the eyeballs; seven of the eye rows ; six of chins; fingers; wrists and arms etc. Dancer enacts the various roles of characters appearing in episode, themes and stories in the mythology. The dancer has to express through movements the moods of passion, heroic sentiment, fear, anger, hatred, tenderness, laughter, amazement and peace. Bharat Natyam has been the mother of the other classical dance system in India. It has also been the main source of inspiration for the allied artd sculpture, paintings and icon making.

Kalakshetra : in Chennai is an important center of training which was started by the late Rukmini Devi, a pioneer and one of the most renowned figures in the world of performing arts in India.

Decline of the BharatNatyam Dance Form :

With time, the devadasis of the temple turned into narthakis of the royal court and prostitution started replacing the devotion of the women. The original technique and themes of Bharatnatyam were modified to suit the new demands. The sacred connotation of the dance form was sacrificed to make it amenable to the entertainment needs of the kings.

Rebirth of the BharatNatyam Dance :

The person responsible for once again raising the social status of Bharatanatyam is Krishna Iyer. He also contributed positively to the popularity of the dance form throughout the world. Another name that comes in mind in connection with this is that of Rukmini Devi Arundale. She modified the Pandanallur style of Bharatanatyam and popularized it in the West. Rukmini founded the Kalakshetra School in 1936, outside the city of Madras, in order to teach the dance form as well as to promote it. Today, Bharatnatyam has become an integral part of a girl's upbringing in Tamil Nadu.