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Doll up your Bhar-bie
Costumes of Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam costumes come in pant and salwar style. They are commonly used as they provide comfort for the dancers. The costumes are made by sewing silk saris together. The skirt of the dancer is in a fan shape. It usually has beautiful designs so that when the dancer does a bending position, the patterns look beautiful in a fan shape. For example, when the dancer performs the symbolic posture like Muzhu mandi, which is a full-sitting pose and a half-sitting pose, the pleats of the sari open out beautifully and display the motifs giving the performance added elegance.
Bharatanatyam dancers wear unique jewelry also known as temple jewelry. The jewelry usually consists of earrings, wristlets, ankle bracelets, ear chains, bangles and the headpiece. The jewelry is often made of gold or silver. The most significant piece of jewelry a Bharatanatyam dancer has to wear is the headpiece also known as thalai saman. Dancers wear their hair in buns and decorate it with flowers. Moreover, they wear the dot also known as tika in the middle of their forehead. The chain that they wear around their necks are often in red, green or pearl colour. Moreover, most of the jewelry worn by dancers have floral designs. Ankle bells play the most crucial part and are given utmost importance in a Bharatanatyam performance as well.
Bharatanatyam dancers usually wear heavy makeup around their eyes. The purpose of this is to highlight the facial expressions and features of the dancer. Heavy lines are drawn around the eyes and extended outwards the eyebrows. The makeup around the eyes helps enhance the connection between the viewer and the performer as the viewer will be able to better understand the character of the dancer. Makeup around the eyes is also to highlight the emotional state of the performer and the character that they are trying to portray.
References
Padanyas Nrityalaya. (n.d.). Bharatanatyam Costume - Types & Parts.
Srinivas. P. (n.d.). Bharatanatyam Costume – Make up And Ornaments.
https://indiathedestiny.com/india-society/costumes/bharatanatyam-costume/