When to Start Teaching Bharatanatyam Items After Adavus

In Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form, it is common to start teaching items only after students have learned a foundational set of adavus, or basic dance steps. Adavus form the building blocks of the dance and help students develop the necessary skills for body posture, footwork, and rhythm.

Understanding the Learning Process

When learning any language, we start with the sounds and syllables first, just as we begin with adavus. We then progress to stringing these sounds into basic words, just as we move from simple adavus to more complex combinations. It's crucial that students master these basic elements before tackling more intricate dances or items such as varnams or padams. However, some teachers may introduce simple items earlier in the process to keep students engaged and help them apply their adavu training in a more expressive context.

The Structured Approach of Adavus

The adavus in Bharatanatyam are structured in a very intelligent way. For example, starting with simple positions and movements like thaatu (a strike of the foot in the half sitting position) and araimandi (a placement of the heel in the half sitting position), and then gradually progressing to more complex combinations. The intricacies of upper body and hand movements also increase, demanding more acute coordination and balance from the dancer. This stage of learning follows as a consequence of understanding and mastering smaller sequences of movements.

Learning an Item as an Essay

An item or repertoire piece in Bharatanatyam is like an essay. It is a complete piece with its own internal structure, having a clear beginning, middle, and end, with its own story to tell. Therefore, it is only logical that this stage of learning follows after the students have mastered the adavus.

The Evolution of Adavu Training

Adavu training also incorporates the coordinated use of hand gestures and eye movements, which lay the foundation for the narrative aspect of Bharatanatyam. By going through all the families of adavus, the dancer slowly gains mastery over a large variety of combinations and is prepared to start addressing the larger challenge of stringing together many of them in a long sequence to form a single cohesive story - what we call a repertoire piece or an item.

Teacher’s Methodology and Student’s Readiness

While adavus provide the necessary foundation, the approach to introducing items and sequences can vary based on the teacher’s methodology and the student’s readiness. Teachers often balance between ensuring students have a strong foundation and keeping them engaged with expressive items. This balance is crucial in effective teaching and learning of Bharatanatyam.

Conclusion

In summary, while it's common in Bharatanatyam to start teaching items after students have learned the foundational adavus, the approach can vary. Teachers must strike a balance between building a strong foundation and keeping students engaged. Understanding the structure and evolution of adavus is essential for effective learning and performance in Bharatanatyam.