THREE AKSHA A Guide on Bharatanatyam from the #MannMusicRoom ABOUT Three Aksha is an Indian Dance Company based in Philadelphia teaching an Indian dance form called Bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam is a classical Indian dance that began in the ancient temples of South India. From there it moved to royal courts and then to its present form which was shaped by dancer- choreographer Rukmini Devi Arundale (1904- 1986). The primary source of Bharatanatyam is an ancient religious text on the performing arts WHERE IS INDIA? called the Natyashastra. This text outlines the dance’s characters, the use of the stage, and even India is located in south Asia. The capital its choreography. In this classical dance form, is New Delhi (Delhi), and the language the dancer represents the journey of the human most people speak is Hindi. A person who soul. The movement of Bharatanatyam uses the is from India is Indian. India is the body to create strict lines, angles, and geometry. seventh largest country in the world, and The instruments being played with the dances it has the second highest population after include: the mridangam (double-sided drum), China. India borders 7 countries as well nadaswaram (long type of oboe made from a as 3 bodies of water - the Indian Ocean, black wood), nattuvangam (cymbals), the flute, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal. violin and veena. TRUE OR FALSE India is a peninsula T F The capital of India is Mumbai T F India's primary language is Hindi T F WORD SEARCH! India Violin Three Aksha Mridangam Nadaswaram Dance Flute Nattuvangam Veena COLOR ME IN! Where the hands go, the eyes follow Where the eyes go, the mind follows Where the mind goes, the emotions are created Where the emotions are created, sentiment springs. TRUE OR FALSE ANSWER KEY India is a peninsula T F The capital of India is Mumbai T F India's primary language is Hindi T F WORD SEARCH ANSWER KEY.