Bharatanayam - Grade 1 Exam

Syllabus from Thamil Isai Kalaa Manram of Ontario (Dance Examination 2014)

THEORY (Oral test only)
1) Namaskaram and its importance
2) Dhyaana Shlokam
3) Mudras - Asamyuta Hastas
4) Explanation of Bhava, Raga, Tala 

PRACTICAL
1) Thattadavu (Total:8)
2) Nattadavu (Total:8)
3) Tha Thei Thei Tha (Total:4)
4) Kudhithu (Jump) Mettadavu (Total:4)
5) Theiya Theiyie (Total: 4)
6) Thath Thei Thaha (Total: 4)
7) Thath Thei Tham (Total:6 only 2 of these are included for Grade 1)
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THEORY

1) Namaskaram and its importance:

Namaskaram (Obeisance) is the traditional way to start and end a dance practice or a performance. The dancer pays respect to the Lord, Guru and the audience and asks for forgiveness from Mother Earth for stamping on her during the dance. The dancer also prays for protection to the Ashta Dikpalas, the eight deities that guard the eight quarters of the world.

2) Dhyaana Shlokam

In Sanskrit Dhyaana means “meditation” and Shlokam means “prayer”. It is a tradition to start a dance practice with a recitation of the Dhyaana shlokam.

Angikam Bhuvanam Yasya  ( Whose body is the entire Universe)
Vachikam Sarva Vangmayam ( Whose speech is all the language of the Universe)

 Aaharyam Chandra Taradi (Whose ornaments are the moon and the stars)
Tam Numah Saattvikam Shivam (Him, we bow to, that pure Lord Shiva!)

Word for word meaning: Angikam : body , Bhuvanam : universe, Yasya : whose, Vachikam : speech, Sarva : all, Vangmayam : languages, Aaharyam : ornaments, Chandra : moon, Taradi : stars, Tam : Him, Numah : bow, Saattvikam : pure, Shivam : Lord Shiva 
Hand gestures used in Angikam Bhuvanam : uses a few special hand gestures 
Angikam : ( ? ), Bhuvanam : suchi, Yasya :  ( ? ), Vachikam : ( ? ), Sarva: patakam, Vangmayam: (mukulam to alapadmam), Aaharyam: ( ? ), Chandra : (alapadmam), Taradi: ( ? ), Tam : (suchi), Numah: (anjali), Saattvikam : ( ? ), Shivam: (ardhachandran, shikharam) 

3) Asamyuta Hastas (Single hand gestures - 28 mudras) 
Shlokam: || Patakas tripatako ardhapatakaha kartarimukhaha
Mayurasyo ardhachandrashcha arla shukatundakaha
Mushtishcha shikarakhyashcha kapittha katakamukhaha
Suchi chandrakala padmakoshakaha sarpashirstatha
Mrigashirshaha simhamukhaha kangulashcha alapadmakaha
Chaturobramarashchaiva hamsasyo hamsapakshakaha
Samdamsho mukulashchaiva tamrachuda trishulakaha
Ityasamyutahasta hastaanaam ashtavinshatiririta ||

The literal meaning and usage of the hand gestures. 
pathaka : flag -> natyarambham, night, river, clouds
tripathaka: a triangular flag -> Indra (both hands in tripatakam)
arthapathaka : half flag -> showing a branch
kartharimukha: scissors -> show lightning, separation of man and woman, disagreement
mayura : peacock -> vomiting, forehead, wipe away tears
ardhachandra: half moon ->moon, seizing the neck
arala: bent  -> drinking poison, nectar
shukathunda:  parrot's beak (? or head?) -> shooting an arrow
mushti : fist -> grabbing the hair, wrestling
shikharam: peak -> shiva lingam, manmatha
kapitham: wood apple -> lakshmi, saraswathi, milking the cow
katakhamukham: opening in a bracelet -> plucking flowers, wearing a pearl necklace
2nd katakhamukham: (double headed kapitham) : holding out a mirror, use both hands
3rd katakhamukham: mother
suchi : needle ->threatening, sun, twirl the hair, pointing at a distance, once upon a time
chandrakala: digit of the moon -> moon, face
padmakosha : lotus bud -> bowl of food, fruit, coconut
sarpashirsha : snake hood -> sandal paste, sprinkle
mrigashirsha : deer head -> animal's head
simhamukham : lion face -> used to show deer, drop of water
kangulam : lime (any fruit) -> bells, garland, white water lily
alapadmam: bloomed lotus -> beautiful, full moon, full moon, thinking about beauty
chaturam: four, square-> eye, color
bhramaram : bee
hamsasyam: swan beak-> eye brow, painting
hamsapaksham:swan wing
samdamsha: pincers
mukula: blossom
tamrachuda: cock
trishula: trident

4) Explanation of Bhava, Raga, Tala

The origin of the name Bharatanatyam came from 4 Sanskrit words Bha-ra-ta-natyam

Bha comes from Bhava, which means expression.

Ra comes from Raga, which means melody.

Ta comes from Tala, which means rhythm.

Bhava (Expression): Bhava is the emotional expression of the performer. It is a visual expression by which a dancer can convey her inner feelings. Examples: happy, dad, shy, anger, fear (navarasas)

Raga(Melody): A raga is identified by a particular combination of musical phrases (swaras) that gives it its unique melodic character, and expresses certain moods or emotions.Eg: Vasantha ragam

Tala (Rhythm): The tala is a rhythmic cycle containing a fixed number of beats. Talam provides the rhythemic foundation for the melodic structure.Eg Adi, Rupakam

PRACTICAL 

Thattadavu (Total 8)
	Right leg	Left leg	Talam
1	Theiya	Thei
2	Theiya Thei	Theiya Thei
3	Theiya Theiya Thei	Theiya Theiya Thei
4	Theiya Theiya Theiya Thei	Theiya Theiya Theiya Thei
5	Theiya Theiya Thei Thei Tham	Theiya Theiya Thei Thei Tham
6	Thei Thei Tham ,,	Thei Thei Tham ,,
	Thei Thei Tham ,,	Thei Thei Tham ,,
7	Thei Thei Thath	Thath
	Thei Thei Tham
8	Thei	Thei
	Thei	Thei
	Dhidh	Dhidh
	Thie