Costume and jewelry in Bharatanatyam dance form an integral component of its performances, with dancers wearing specific armlets, bangles, and necklaces to perform the concert.
Women’s Bharatanatyam dresses resemble traditional Indian saris with unique front pleated pieces that open like fans when the dancer bends her knees or performs more intricate footwork. Additionally, this costume comes complete with a headdress.
Women’s Costume
Bharatanatyam is an elegant yet complex form of Indian classical dance that showcases both grace and complexity. Accompanied by traditional costume and jewelry that honor India’s rich cultural heritage, its women’s costume usually comprises a fitted blouse and long skirt with embellishments – as well as quality fabrics that allow free movement without restricting dancers’ comfort – this form of attire helps dancers perform intricate choreographies without suffering discomfort.
Bharatanatyam costumes feature intricate embroidery of various religious motifs and designs using threads of pure gold or shimmering silk, making the skirted costume highly visible as dancers perform symbolic postures such as Muzhu Mandalam (Full Sitting Pose) or Aria Mandalam (Half Sitting Pose). These skirted costumes make a striking first impression when dancers flex their knees for Muzhu Mandalam or Aria Mandalam poses.
Men’s Bharatanatyam costumes tend to be much simpler than their female counterparts. Male dancers usually don a white cotton cloth that drapes loosely around their legs and bottom half like a dhoti, leaving their upper body exposed.
This allows a dancer to exhibit all of the acrobatic movements and hand gestures of Bharatanatyam, along with fluid backbends and forward bends, as well as facial expressions during performances. Furthermore, audiences are able to view facial expressions during performances; additionally, the lower part of men’s Bharatanatyam dresses may feature decorative borders while pleats on the garments can fan out attractively while dancing hips move.
Bharatanatyam costumes have long exhibited a delicate balance between revealing and concealing female forms, an effect of Bharatanatyam’s attempts to move away from its roots as a temple ritual performed by Devadasis and make it acceptable to middle-class audiences, losing some erotica and sensuality along the way.
Bharatanatyam costumes are known for their vibrant colors and intricate embroidery that reflect India’s cultural and traditional aspects. It should be noted, however, that this type of attire should only be worn by professional dancers and not by regular people. As these costumes can be pretty costly, proper care must be taken in order to preserve them and ensure their integrity. When worn incorrectly, it may distract viewers as well as damage fabric fabric. Dancers should wear only authentic Bharatanatyam jewelry made of precious metals such as gold or silver; such pieces are worn around the neck, ears, and wrists during performances to look their best. Furthermore, the jewelry must remain clean and in good condition to ensure dancers look their best during performances.
