Session 46- Panchanadai – Kantam and Sankeernam

Step 4

Kantam : Ta-ka- ta-ki-ta (5 beats) Play audio file

Kantam: Ta- Ka- ta-ki-ta (5 beats)..

Beat/Foot work	Ta	ka	ta	ki	ta
Right Feet	Tap	–	tap	–
Left Feet	–	–		Mettu(strike the floor with toes while keeping the heels lifted)	Mettu (Bring the heel down and strike the floor)

 

Step5

Sankeernam: Ta- Ka- Dhi-Mi- Ta-ka-ta- Ki- ta (9beats)(4+5)

Perform step 1(Chatushram) and step 4(kantam) successively.

 Play audio file

Session 44:Exercise- Reciting with Thalam

Below is a video of Adi talam( Chatushra jati Triputa Talam having a total of 8 beats). Now try to use this and recite the natadavu or the mardhita in three speeds. Also try using your own hands to keep the time measure. Once you have understood this, you are ready to embark further on the panchanadai..

Please Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaiEL7ewMx4&feature=related ( since the video embedding is prohibited by this user, I am not able to do so here)

Video Courtesy: You Tube

Once you have accomplished reciting the sorkattu for the adavu with the thalam, watch the following video which demonstrates a Mirdanga Vidwan,mr. Satish Krishnamurthy, reciting a korvai (or a rhythmmic sequence) for adi talam. This recitation of the rhythmic syllable is also referred to as Konakkol. Try to keep the Talam along with him. It may not be easy the first time. Dont give up, learning the knack of it will be a very satisfying experience.

You may wonder why talam is given so much emphasis in this blog, but then remember “Tha” in Bharatha Natyam is for Thalam. Since we are learning the adavus or steps currently, we arent exactly touching upon the Bhavam or expressional aspect.. Ragam or Music is a subject in itself. Currently the right approach for you would be to master Talam (Rhythm) and Kaalam(Speed)

Video Courtesy: You Tube

Session 36- Paidhal Step 1

This step involves systematic and rhythmic leaps to the sides, front and back.

Lets watch the animation that demonstrates the adavu to the right side.

Start Position: Araimandi with katakamukhams at chest level.

Stage 1:

• Tai: –
  • Leap and land with right feet . Fold your left leg at the knees and keep it raised behind the right leg.
  • The right hand opens out in alapadmam, tracing an arc it is stretched out at the shoulder level.
  • Bend towards the outstretched hand.

· Taiyum:

o The left leg is now landed on its toes to form a swastikam(crossed) behind the flat right feet.

o The hand position and bending are as above

· Tatta – this is a rest/silent phrase (where no movement is done)

Stage 2: Repeat as in stage one to the left. The left hand is now stretched in alapadmam and the right hand is brought back into a katakamukham in front of the chest.

Stage 3:

• Tai: –
  • Leap and land diagonally to the front on the right side and land with right feet . Fold your left leg at the knees and keep it raised behind the right leg.
  • The right hand opens out in alapadmam, it is stretched out at the shoulder level. The left hand is stretched above the head in an upturned katakamukham.
  • Bend towards the outstretched hand.

· Taiyum:

o The left leg is now landed on its toes to form a swastikam(crossed) behind the flat right feet.

· Tatta – this is a rest/silent phrase (where no movement is done)

Stage 4

• Tai: –
  • Leap back to the start position with the left feet . Fold your right leg at the knees and keep it raised beside the left leg.
  • The right hand in alapadmam, and the left hand stretched up in katakamukham are brought back and placed in katakamukhams in front of the chest.
  • The torso is now straightened.

· Taiyum:

o The right leg is now placed beside the left feet in parshvagam.

o Hands as above .

· Tatta – this is a rest/silent phrase (where no movement is done)

All the four stages are then repeated to the left.

Try this with this audio link .

While teaching kids it may help to say

• R -taiyum -tatta
• L-taiyum -tatta
• Front-taiyum -tatta
• Back -taiyum -tatta
• L-taiyum -tatta
• R-taiyum -tatta
• Front -taiyum -tatta
• Back -taiyum -tatta

Session 33- Sarukkal adavu step 4

This is the last of the steps in this set of adavus.

Hastas used: Mrigasirsham and pathakam (kept at the waist). Some styles do use the dola instead of the pathakam.

Movement: The first step involved moving to the sides, the second to the front, the third, all 4 directions (R,L, Front and back). This step involves moving in diagonals to create a zig zag pattern in space.

Let’s now go throught the flow of movements in this step:-

Start Position: Samapadam with left hand in pathakam at the waist. The right hand is held in mrigarsirsham placed on the shoulder. The students begins standing slighlty turned towards the left (at 45 degress).

1. Tai- Take a step to the back with your left leg. Bend to your right. Face left.
2. Ha– Place your right feet in line with the left. Straighten your torso.
3. Dit – Now go up on both your heels (as in executing a taditam). With a smart turn of your chin, look forward (ahead of the mrigarsirsham in your right hand).
4. Tai– Put your toes down and return glance/drishti to left.

For the next set of tai-ha -di-tai, repeat the movements in your right.For another two sets of tai-ha -di-tai, mirror the movement to your left. While doing the left, the mrigarsirsham and pathakam are interchanged quickly and gracefully.

So in essence, you move twice backwards(obliquely) to the right and twice to the left creating zig zag patterns.

This step is definitely a challenge to visualize, to those of you who are learning it for the first time. But put on your thinking caps and try constructing one. It will definitely be fun to check it later on with our visual aid which will be posted soon.

Now lets look at our animation

Now let’s practice this with the audio.

Session 32 – Sarukkal Adavu Steps 2 and 3…

The second variation in sarukkal adavu involves executing the sarukkal adavu while moving to the front. The hastas used in this step include, the katakamukham and alapadmam.

Let’s watch the animation… In this clip we have some beginners performing the step for you. You might notice how the posture(a confident stance) improves with practice. Hopefully we will get to watch the same students over a period of time to watch their progress.

Let’s now go throught the flow of movements in this step:-

Start Position: Samapadam with left hand stretched up in katamukham facing the roof. The right hand is held in alapadmam in front of the chest.

1. Tai- Take a step to the front with your right leg. Bend to your left at your waist
2. Ha– Place your left feet in line with the right. Straighten your torso.
3. Dit – Now go up on both your heels (as in executing a taditam). Gently lift your chin and look upwards. Care should be taken to not raise the neck too much; that will hamper the aesthetics of the presentation.
4. Tai– Put your toes down and return glance/drishti to look straight.

For the next set of tai-ha -di-tai, repeat the movements in your left. It may initailly be a problem to shift hands while changing sides, but as with any other step (or for that matter any learning process) repetition will make the transition softer .

Now let’s practice this with the audio.

Step 3 is combination of steps 1 and 2. The first step is immediately followed by the second one to make the thrid step.

The step is discussed in the following table…

SORKATTU/ FOOTWORK	Tai	ha	dit	tai	Hasta
Move to R (as in step 1)	R	L	DIT (Toes up, rooted on heel)	TAI (Bring toes down)	Pathakam
Move to L (as in step 1)	L	R	DIT	TAI	pathakam
Move upfront (as in step 2)	R(FRONT)	L(FRONT)	DIT	TAI	Katakamukham(L) and alapadmam(R)
Move back (as in step 2, but move backwards)	L(BACK)	R(BACK)	DIT	TAI	Katakamukham(R) and alapadmam(L)

It may be seen that the step involves movement to the right, left, front and back.

Let’s practice this one with the audio

Test 2- Checkpoint

We have now completed four sets of adavus and Asamyutha and Samyutha Hastas.

Lets see how much we remember from what we have learnt…

Think and answer these questions carefully

1. What are two handed gestures called?
2. Katakamukham is an Asamyutha Hasta… True or False
3. Paraval adavu is another name for ……………………
4. Naatadavu gives importance to the ____________ position of the feet.
5. Kudhitametti are steps that involve_________________.
6. Name the position of the hands used in the Tatadavu.
7. Match the following
   1. Kudhitametti a. Anjitham
   2. Tatadavu b. Flowing movements
   3. Naatadavu c. katithosedham
   4. Mardhitha d. Tapping
8. Name the Hastas with the following meaning
   1. War 6. Blossomed flower
   2. Fish 7. Pigeon/dove
   3. Flag 8. crab
   4. Half Moon 9. peacock
   5. Needle 10. box/container
9. Demonstrate the adavus for the following sorkattus :-
   1. Adavu 1
   2. Adavu 2
10. Recite the Asamyutha Hasta Verse

The answers for this quiz is be published in our orkut community at http://www.orkut.com/CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=44961401&tid=2593468076417617749&na=4

You are free to send in your answers to us as comments…(Will not be posted)

Session 29- Kudhitametti step 6

Kudhitametti step 6,another longer variation, can be looked upon as an extension to step one where one more range of hand movement is added . The new movement is upwards.

Lets watch the simplified animation…

Start Position: araimandi with hands stretched in katakamukham

1. Thai-ha: Take both your hands above your head and cross them in alapadmam symetrically. One set of jump and down execution of the feet. You may face up.
2. Tai-he : One set of jump and down execution of the feet accompanied by the closing of the alapadmam in both hands to katkamukhams in the previous position. Face still up.
3. Tai – ha: For this ” Jump and heel down” movement of the feet, open and stretch both your hands out at shoulder level into (uttanam) alapadmams. The student may turn and face the right hand at this point. (as in step 1)
4. Tai-he: For this ” Jump and heel down” motion of the feet , the fingers close back into katakamukham as in the start position. Face front. (as in step 1)
5. Tai – ha: For the next ” Jump and heel down” motion of the feet, the hands are crossed in avahita (Crossing alapadmams) in front of the chest. The student bends at her waist to the right. (as in step 1)
6. Tai-he:For this ” Jump and heel down” movement of the feet, open your hands out from the starting position into (uttanam) alapadmams. The student may turn and face the right hand at this point. (as in step 1)
7. Thai ha: Repetition of movement in stage 3 .Now again open and stretch your hands out at shoulder level into (uttanam) alapadmams. The student may turn and face the right hand at this point. . One set of jump and down execution of the feet. Face the right hand.
8. Tai-he: Repetition of movement in stage 4. For the last of this ” Jump and heel down” motion of the feet , the fingers close back into katakamukham as in the start position. Face front.

For the left side of this step, mirror the movement to the left but, the student bends to her left on sequence no.5 and 6.

Now lets try practicing with the audio

Learning Tip: The hand movement for this step can be traced as follows:-
Up, side, front and side

The other stylistic variations in kudhitametti include using the tirupathakam and moving it vertically in an arc from above the head to being parallel to the knee. Have you ever seen this variation?

With this we conclude our session in Kudhitametti .

Session 28- Kudhitametti step 5

Kudhitametti steps 5 and 6 are the longer ones which use up 8 sets of Tai-ha, tai-he syllables for a complete execution on the right and the left. This can be a test to the student’s stamina and pain tolerance initially.

Step 5 has the hands drawing an approximate arc of 270 degrees.

Start Position: Fig 1, araimandi with hands stretched in katakamukham

• Thai-ha: Turn torso and reach the right hand just in front of the left as in fig 2. Open it in uttana alapadmam. One set of jump and down execution of the feet.Face left

• Tai-he : One set of jump and down execution of the feet accompanied by the closing of the right alapadmam to katkamukham in the previous position as in fig 3. Face left

• Tai- Ha: Now move the right hand in an arc above the head and stretch in alapamam as in fig 4. One set of jump and down execution of the feet. Face upwards.
• Tai-he: One set of jump and down execution of the feet accompanied by the closing of the right alapadmam(above) to katkamukham in the previous position as in fig 5.Face upwards.
• Thai ha: Now move the right hand down in an arc and stretch in alapamam towards the right at the shoulder level as in fig 6. One set of jump and down execution of the feet. Face right
• Tai-he: One set of jump and down execution of the feet accompanied by the closing of the right alapadmam(on the right side) to katkamukham as in fig 7.Face right.
• Thai ha: Now move the right hand in by bending at the elbow( You will reach position9) and stretch in alapamam towards the left knee and bend at you waist to the right as in fig 6. One set of jump and down execution of the feet. Face the outstretched left hand.
• Tai-he: One set of jump and down execution of the feet accompanied by the bringing the right hand and placing it in katkamukham at the chest level as in fig 9. Face front.

We have completed the right side of the step starting the hand movement from the left, up, right and down.

For the left side of this step, mirror the movement to the left. So it would involve the opening and closing of the left hand in alapadmam and katakamukham starting from right, up, left and down.

Now lets try practicing with the audio

Session 26- Kudhittametti Step 1

Lets watch the synchronized movements of the hands and feet in the first step of Kudhittametti in our animation…

Let’s carefully go through the sequence…

Start Position: Araimandi with hands stretched out in katakamukham.

1. Tai – ha: For this first of the ” Jump and heel down” movement of the feet, open your hands out from the starting position into (uttanam) alapadmams. The student may turn and face the right hand at this point.
2. Tai-he: For the second ” Jump and heel down” motion of the feet , the fingers close back into katakamukham as in the start position. Face front.
3. Tai – ha: For the third ” Jump and heel down” motion of the feet, the hands are crossed in avahita (Crossing alapadmams) in front of the chest. The student bends at her waist to the right.
4. Tai-he:For the fourth ” Jump and heel down” motion of the feet, the hands are closed and crossed in katakavardhanam in front of the chest.

Then the movement is mirrored to the left. For the left, the student bends to her left on sequence no.3.

Let’s practice this with our audio.

Session22- Mardhita Step 8

Lets look at the last variation in Mardhita/Paraval . This step involves the movement in the form of the alphabet “V”.

The hastas used include the katakamukham, alapadmam and dola.

The notable feet positions and movements include : Araimandi,Kudittu position, agratala sancharam, naatu, thaditham and chankramanam Chari. We have studied all these in earlier sessions.

Let’s watch the animation…

Now for the analysis of the movement flow

Start Position: Aramandi with the right hand in Katkamukham at the chest and left hand in dola

• Ta: Jump on toes in Kudhittu position in the start position
• Tai :
  • The right feet is placed in naatu/anjitham slightly to the right in a diagonal fashion. After a firm placement of the heels the toes follow in a quiet taditham. The Chakramanam chari is used and so the student needs to fold at his/her knees to while doing this step.
  • The right hand is stretched down in uttanam alapadmam, parallel to the right stretched feet and hence begins moving upwards.
  • The torso bends at the waist to enable the hands to reach the floor.
• Tai:
  • Now the left leg is placed in naatu crossing over the right, make the movement more pronounced to the right. (Chakramanam chari)
  • The right hand moves a little higher , say at around the shoulder level.
  • The torso now follows the movement of the right hand.
• Ta:
  • Now stretch the right leg flat on the floor towards your right corner. The left feet does not move, but is flexed to lift up the heels, being rooted to the floor on toes.
  • The right hand is stretched above to the front,at an angle of 45 degrees to the shoulder.
  • The waist stretches in proportion to the stretch of the right hand.
  • look at your stretched katakamukham

From then on we move back wards to our start position for 4 counts:

• Di :
  
  • Jump in kudhittu positon bringing the left leg front in line with the right. Please make sure this movement is in araimandi.
  • Hands as in previous position
  • Torso straightened.
• Tai:
  • Now start walking backwards with the left feet, placing the toes first and then the heel
  • The right hand now starts reversing the upward curve it started during the last 4 counts. the hand is now brought down in uttana alapadmam, stretched at say slightly above the shoulderline and continues it descent downwards.
• Tai:
  • The right feet is then placed behing the left (on its toes).
  • The right hand is stretched down in aplapadmam
  • The waist bends forward to enable the hand to reach the floor.
• Ta:
  • Now the left leg is brought back and tapped in line with the right and the student sits is aramandi.
  • The right hand is bent at the elbow and placed in katakamukham in front of the chest.

  Once this is completed, change your left hands into katakamukham at chest levels, and the right into a dola.

• For the next 8 counts, mirror the movement in left. Pictures will be provided shortly to enhance understanding.

Let’s try practicing with the audio…

Training/Learning Tip

You could learn this step easily by saying

For Right side:

Jump, R, L, stretch

Jump , L, R, Sit

For Left Side

Jump, L, R, Stretch,

Jump , R, L, Sit

Mardhita/Paraval adavu is a set of adavus that lend itself to a lot of creativity, hence you would notice a lot of variation in this set among the different Bharathanatyam styles(or Pani as it is termed) and even within a style.

Here is link of the paraval adavu in Kalakshetra style, from the instruction video by Jayalakshmi Eshwar featured on the You Tube.