What is Bharatanatyam?

The word Bharatanatyam can be broken down to “bhavam” which means expression, “ragam” which means music, “talam”, which means rhythm, and “natyam”, which means dance. Bharatanatyam is a dance originating in the Hindu Temples in the state Tamil Nadu (southern India). It traces its origins back to the Natyashastra, an ancient treatise on theatre written by the mythic priest Bharata. Originally a temple dance for women, bharatanatyam often is used to express Hindu religious stories and devotions. Authorities state Bharatanatyam is a descendant of an ancient temple devotional girl culture (Devadasi) with origins in 300 BCE to 300 CE. Bharatanatyam is an expressive dance form that utilizes many body parts, such as the eyes, hands, and feet to accentuate various human emotions. Modern Bharatanatyam contains over 30 individual hand gestures with each gesture representing a different meaning. The myriad of patterns that arise from a combination of eye and hand gestures allows for both men and women dancers to create a story through this visually aesthetic dance. Bharatanatyam is based on the 108 positions of Lord Nataraja’s “Dance of Triumph”

What is an Arangetram?

The word Arangetram means "acending the stage." It is a dance debut – that means it's the first time a student performs a full concert by themselves. It is a major event where you invite close friends and family as well as other members of the artistic community. A live orchestra performs with the dancer – a mridangam player, a singer, a violinist, a flautist, sometimes a veena player, and the teacher to do the nattuvaangam or rhythmic direction. The Arangetram is also when the student earns their ghungroo (ankle bells), symbolizing that they are ready to begin performing professionally!

Karina began dancing Bharat Natyam at age 4 in Los Angeles. She began under the tutelage of Kalashri Asha Gopal in 2018. She has been learning her craft for 11 years to reach this culminating point in her dance journey.

About Karina's Guru

Kalashri Asha Gopal is the Founder/Director of the Arathi School of Dance. Kalashri Asha teaches the Pandanallur style of Bharata Natya, learned under eminent teachers, Guru Muthiah Pillai, Guru Kittappa Pillai and Professor U. S. Krishna Rao. She is a distinguished dancer and teacher. She has represented the Governments of Karnataka and India as cultural ambassador, giving performances in Sikkim for King of Sikkim and in Canada for Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. She has had the privilege of performing for two former Presidents of India and the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and has given memorable performances in Europe, Mexico and the USA.

Kalashri Asha Gopal has been honored with the 'Abhinaya Saraswathi' award, by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Cambodia. Among other coveted, distinguished awards, Kalashri Asha has been privileged to receive are: 'Singar Mani' title from Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai (1969), NRI Excellence award in London, England (1993), Karnataka 'Kalashri' award from Sangeet Natak Academy (1999), and Citizen of the Year award from the Asian American Association of Arizona (2000).

Asha Gopal was the first Bharat Natyam teacher in Arizona, starting her Arathi School of Dance in 1981. In 2016, during its 35th year, the school graduated its 200th student. Kalashri Asha Gopal is in the Guinness Book of World Records for having graduated the most number of bharatnatyam students as signified by arangetram performances. Karina is honored to be her 247th arangetram.