Bharathanatyam is an artistic yoga that involves the movement of the body parts in a very artistic and elegant manner. Bharathanatyam is the most significant classical dance form of South India which is said to have originated in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu. 

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The term Bharatanatyam is a compound of two words, Bharata and Natyam. Bharata inBharatanaytam, in the Hindu tradition, is believed to have named after the famous performance art sage to whom the ancient Natya Shastra is attributed. Bharatanatyam can also be referred as a dance which harmoniously expresses “bhava, raga and tala”. 

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The movements of Bharathanatyam are unique. Bharatanatyam is dynamic and energetic; it is also precise and balanced. The basic postures center the weight of the dancer, and there is little use of the hips or off-balance positions. Bharatanatyam has a variety of characteristic movements. Along with the rhythmic stamping of the feet, there are jumps, pirouettes, and positions where the knees contact the floor. Many are executed in the stance with knees bent and turned outward. Performed by an expert dancer, these movements flow together gracefully.