Bharatanatyam - Classical Indian Dance, Part 1 of 3

Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest classical dance forms of India. Bharatanatyam, is a very, very popular dance today. According to legend, Lord Brahma revealed Bharatanatyam to the sage Bharata Muni, who in the 2nd century CE encoded the holy dance style in the Natya Shastra, the ancient Sanskrit Hindu text on the performing arts. The dance traditionally tells stories with religious themes and expresses spiritual ideas from Hindu texts through the intricate footwork, impressive gestures, and facial expressions of dancers accompanied by live music and singing.