Bharatha Natyam is one of the most ancient, beautiful, subtle and sophisticated dance forms of the world.  India’s earliest manuscript on dance is Bharatha’s ‘Natya Shastra’ dated 200 B.C.  The word “Bharatha” is analytically fragmented to bring forth its meaning: ‘bha’ stands for ‘bhava’ or expression; ‘ra’ refers to ‘raga’ or melody; and ‘ta’ refers to ‘tala’ or rhythm the three together forming the essential components of the dance.  This dance form is a composite art.  It combines the art of drama, music, poetry, color, and rhythm.  Its keynote is a message not only to the senses but also to the soul of the dance and the perceiver.  The dancer, who dissolves her identity into rhythm and music, makes her body an instrument for experience of the soul. 

Until the beginning of the 20th century, this art form solely depended on the ‘devadasis’ who were the dedicated dancers at the temples of Tamil Nadu in India.  But then the ‘devadasi’ system suffered a terrible abuse in the hands of the society and came to be degraded as being immoral.  It is due to the relentless pioneering work of Smt Rukmini Devi Arundale that Bharatha Natyam has had a revival. By founding Kalakshetra she has restored the art to its old glory.  Today it is acknowledged as a divine art, which exercises purification of the spirit.