Somaesthetics of Bharatanāṭyam: The Dancer as Yogi

Abstract

This interview contains insights into the journey of an artist as a practitioner, and a performer of the Indian classical dance Bharatanāṭyam. Discussing the philosophical, spiritual and somatic dimensions of the dance, the artist elaborates on the role of the performing soma as the medium of communication in the classical dance form, and the importance of practice in preparing the soma for the effective embodiment of emotions.
Smt. Vrinda Ramanan is a Bharatanāṭyam Dancer, Mountaineer and Author. Shaped by a rich lineage of distinguished gurus, she also specialised in Nattuvangam and the Indian classical dance Kuchipudi. With over four decades of experience, she is currently the Artistic Director of Bala Kala Vidhanam, founded by her husband, Ramanan and herself. A trained mountaineer who has been trekking extensively in the Himalayas and the Western Ghats for the past 45 years, she regularly contributes articles to many leading newspapers and magazines, and has authored several books including Srirangam, Bhooloka Vaikuntam, Tirumala, Kaliyuga Vaikuntam, The Art and Architecture of the Srirangam Temple,The Mountains of our Destiny – The Indian Himalayas and Samayapuram- The Sacred Seat of Shakti. Her forthcoming books are The Evolution of Temple Architecture in Tamilnadu and The Western Ghats.
The following interview has been edited for continuity and clarity.