Banis (Traditional Styles) in Bharatnatyam

There are different traditional styles in Bharatnatyam depending upon the Gurus or region. They differ in terms of performing the nritta – the adavus (steps) and way of abhinaya- the emotions expressed.  Some of the prominently learnt bharatanatyam styles across the country are:  Tanjavoor, Melathoor, Kalashetra, Vazhavoor, Pandanalloor.

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Banis of Bharatanatyam

Dance Taglines

All the world’s a stage.
Art is not what you see, but what others see.
Ballet is like a sport, only harder.
Ballet never becomes easy. It becomes possible.
Be original.
Be so good they can’t ignore you.
Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order.
Dance to express, not to impress.
Dance, Dance, Dance wherever you may be.
Dance, Dance, Otherwise we are lost.
Dance. Love. Sing. Live.
Dancers dream with their feet.
Dancing is like dreaming on your feet.
Dance with your heart.
Do it with passion or not at all.
Even if I can’t speak it, I can always dance.
I don’t think, I feel.
I need to dance.
If you fall, I’ll be there.
Just get up and dance.
Let’s go, get lost.
Life would be better if we wore more tutu’s.
Move over and let me dance.
Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance.
No standing, only dancing.
One more time, is always a lie.
Poetry is an echo asking a shadow to dance.
Those move easiest who have learned to dance.
What social life. I dance.
When you feel sad, Dance.
Without dance, what’s the point?

Sambaar Powder

Ingredients

  • 1 cup yellow lentil
  • ½ cup bengal gram
  • 1 ½ cups coriander seeds
  • ¼ cup fenugreek seeds
  • ¼ cup pepper
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tbsp rice
  • 4-5 cups dry red chilis
  • 1 tsp asafetida
  • ¼ cup turmeric pieces
  • 1 cup grated dry coconut (optional)

Method

  • Dry roast all the ingredients separately, except coconut
  • Dry coconut should be roasted very lightly on a low flame
  • Cool and make into a fine powder
  • Store in an air tight container.
  • 5-6 1″ cinnamon pieces and few pepper corns can be added while roasting.

Thali Peeth

Ingredients

  • 1 cup jwari flour
  • 1/2 cup gram flour(besan)
  • 1 onion chopped finely
  • 1/2 cup coriander leaves
  • 3 green chillies
  • 1 tsp red chilli powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • salt to taste
  • 2 tbsp oil

Method

  • Mix all the above ingredients properly and knead dough.
  • Make small balls of the dough(as in chapati).
  • Take a damp cloth and put on the wooden/plastic/any platform.
  • Take one ball at a time and spread it with palm hitting slowly in round shape of about 2-3 inch in radius.
  • Now make about 5 holes in the flattened dough, widely spread.
  • Heat the tava(griddle)at medium flame.
  • Put the flattened dough on the tava upside down(i.e upper portion down).
  • Pour little oil through the holes.
  • Turn it upside down when cooked.
  • When both sides are cooked, serve it hot with ghee or white butter or curd/yoghurt or pickle.