Araimandi is a very important posture in Bharatanatyam. It becomes a comfortable posture with practice. "In this posture, the back should not jut out, the stomach should not protrude and the torso should not bend forward. The 'Brahmasutra' (the vertical imaginary line passing through the centre of the body) is in balance. This means that the araimandi (half sit posture) adjusts according to the height of the dancer. When the araimandi is beyond the threshold point, there is an involuntary urge to lift the heels, which will result in imbalance.
Adavus or steps are the building blocks of Bharathanatyam. There are different types of adavus and the nomenclature or naming also varies according to the style or Pani. There are many styles or tradition of Bharathanatyam , the most common of which being the Vazhuvoor, Kalakshetra, Pandanallur, Mysore and Thanjavur styles. It may be noticed that all the styles were born in a particular region after which it is named. The styles may vary in the execution aspects, for example the position of the head , the gait, leaps or a particular way the hand is held, or the dramatic extent of their expressions, but basically conform to the Fundamental Bharathnatyam -- Nritta and Nritya techniques.
The adavus elucidated here have their basis following the Vazhuvoor tradition.
Adavus or steps are the building blocks of Bharathanatyam. There are different types of adavus and the nomenclature or naming also varies according to the style or Pani. There are many styles or tradition of Bharathanatyam , the most common of which being the Vazhuvoor, Kalakshetra, Pandanallur, Mysore and Thanjavur styles. It may be noticed that all the styles were born in a particular region after which it is named. The styles may vary in the execution aspects, for example the position of the head , the gait, leaps or a particular way the hand is held, or the dramatic extent of their expressions, but basically conform to the Fundamental Bharathnatyam -- Nritta and Nritya techniques.
The adavus elucidated here have their basis following the Vazhuvoor tradition.
Adavus :
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Naat Adavu
Name Meaning Sollu No. of Steps Naat Adavu 1 Perching (on the heel) Thai- yum –that-tha 8 Naat Adavu 2 Perching (on the heel) Thai- yum –that-tha 8 Naat Adavu 3 Perching (on the heel) Thai- yum –that-tha 8 Naat Adavu 4 Perching (on the heel) Thai- yum –that-tha 8 Naat Adavu 5 Perching (on the heel) Thai- yum –that-tha 8 Naat Adavu 6 Perching (on the heel) Thai- yum –that-tha 8 Naat Adavu 7 Perching (on the heel) Thai- yum –that-tha 8 -
Gudhithamettu Adavu
Name Meaning Sollu No. of Steps Gudhithamettu Adavu 1 Jumping Thai-ha-Thai-he 6 Gudhithamettu Adavu 2 Jumping Thai-ha-Thai-he 6 Gudhithamettu Adavu 3 Jumping Thai-ha-Thai-he 6 Gudhithamettu Adavu 4 Jumping Thai-ha-Thai-he 6 Gudhithamettu Adavu 5 Jumping Thai-ha-Thai-he 6 -
ThatThaiThaam
Name Meaning Sollu No. of Steps ThatThaiThaam 1 slide in Mandi That-Thai-Thaam Dhit-Thai-Thaam 2 ThatThaiThaam 2 slide in Mandi That-Thai-Thaam Dhit-Thai-Thaam 2 ThatThaiThaam 3 slide in Mandi That-Thai-Thaam Dhit-Thai-Thaam 2 ThatThaiThaam 4 slide in Mandi That-Thai-Thaam Dhit-Thai-Thaam 2 ThatThaiThaam 5 slide in Mandi That-Thai-Thaam Dhit-Thai-Thaam 2 ThatThaiThaam 6 slide in Mandi That-Thai-Thaam Dhit-Thai-Thaam 2 ThatThaiThaam 7 slide in Mandi That-Thai-Thaam Dhit-Thai-Thaam 2 ThatThaiThaam 8 slide in Mandi That-Thai-Thaam Dhit-Thai-Thaam 2 ThatThaiThaam 10 slide in Mandi That-Thai-Thaam Dhit-Thai-Thaam 2 ThatThaiThaam 12 slide in Mandi That-Thai-Thaam Dhit-Thai-Thaam 2 ThatThaiThaam 13 slide in Mandi That-Thai-Thaam Dhit-Thai-Thaam 2 -
6th Set
Name Meaning Sollu No. of Steps 6th Set 1 TBD TBD TBD 6th Set 2 TBD TBD TBD 6th Set 4 TBD TBD TBD 6th Set 5 TBD TBD TBD 6th Set 8 TBD TBD TBD 6th Set 9 TBD TBD TBD 6th Set 10 TBD TBD TBD 6th Set 11 TBD TBD TBD -
7th Set
Name Meaning Sollu No. of Steps 7th Set thatti mettu pancha nadai TBD TBD TBD