Bani

★ Essential

Tamil

A school or style of Bharatanatyam, carried down a lineage.

ConceptBharatanatyam

Meaning

A bani is a distinct style of Bharatanatyam associated with a place and a teaching lineage — Pandanallur, Vazhuvoor, Thanjavur, Kalakshetra and Melattur among them. Banis differ in the shape and number of adavus, the depth of the aramandi, the treatment of abhinaya and the repertoire favoured. A dancer's bani says who taught them, and their teacher's teacher.

Related words

GuruThe teacher, in a relationship closer than instruction.ParamparaAn unbroken line of transmission from guru to student.ArangetramA dancer's first full solo recital before an audience.BhavaThe emotion the performer holds and conveys.RasaThe flavour or sentiment an audience is left tasting.Abhinaya DarpanaThe 'Mirror of Gesture' — the practical manual of expression.

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