VISHWA SHANTHI

promoting peace thru dance and allied arts

ADAVUS
Adavus are the basic dance steps in Bharatha Natyam. They combine different leg and feet postures (sthanakas) and movements (charis) of the body. While learning the Adavus importance is given to Angashuddha (correct postures) and talashuddha (correct rhythm). A dancer also learns to differentiate strong Tandava movements from the graceful, Lasya movements. There are about 100 variations of adavus that are practiced before the main items are taught. Adavus are then combined into jathis and theermanams to form the basis of the items. Therefore for the item and the recital to shine, the basic foundation, that is, the Adavus have to be perfect. It takes upto one and a half years for the all the Adavus to be taught and perfected. The following are the groups of Adavus as they are classified according to the movements and the order in which they will be taught. ! Tattadavu: Tatta means to beat. The body is in Araimandi and the feet strike the floor alternately with the sole. There are eight variations in this group. The sollukatta for this group is Taiya tai. ! Nattuadavu: Natta means to stretch. From the basic araimandi position, one leg is stretched outward either to the side or the front striking the floor with the heel and then is brought back to position. There are eight variations in this group. The sollukatta for this group is Tai

yum tat ta tai yum ta ha.

! Pakkaadavu: Pakka means side and the emphasis on the steps of this group is to move sideways. There are four in this group and the sollukatta for this group is Ta tai tai tha dhit tai tai ta. ! Ettaadavu: Etta means to reach out. This group derives its name from the movements of the hands. The feet beat the floor alternately, both are then raised with a slight jump on the balls of the feet and one foot is brought back to position while the other foot is balanced on the toes. There are six steps in this group. The sollukatta is Tat tai ta ha dhit tai ta ha. ! Kudhitha mettu adavu: Kudhitha mettu means to jump and beat. Both the feet are raised on the toes with a jump and strike the floor together with the heels. There are four in this group. It goes as Tai hat tai hi. ! Sarakkal adavu: Sarakkal is to slide. The foot is made to slide without raising it from the floor and join the other foot in the sthanaka (standing) position. One foot is raised on the heel and both beat the floor with a slight jump. Her again there are four variations and the sollukatta is

Tai ya tai hi.

! Teermana Adavu: Teermana means to conclude or finish. These steps are used to end a group of steps and are usually repeated thrice. Tari kita tom and ta dhing ginna tom are the sollukatta

for this group. They will be divided into two groups variations in the tai tai dhit dhit tai are five and the usual ending steps in the three format are two. ! Tattu metta adavu: Tattu matta means to strike and beat. The foot strikes the floor and is raised on the toes and beats the floor with the heel. There are five variations to match the five basic talas, ta ka di mi (4), ta ki ta (3), ta ka ta ki ta (5), ta ka di mi ta ki ta (7), ta ka di mi ta ka

ta ki ta (9).

! Shutru adavu: Shutru means to whirl. This group of adavus involves swirling movements. There are four in this group. The sollukatta being tat tai tam dhit tai tam. ! Mandi adavu: Mandi means knee and this group of steps consists of one knee resting on the floor while balancing the body on the toes. This group of steps will be combined with the Katta Shimir adavu. Katta means enclose and shimir means to open. These steps have expansive hand movements that suggest opening an enclosed movement. Altogether there are eight variations. Tai tyam ta ta is the sollukatta used. ! Mai adavu: Mai means body. The movement of the entire body is the important feature. ! Periya adavu: Periya means big. These steps are used to cover long areas on the stage.