Bharata Natyam dance has been handed down through the centuries by dance teachers (or gurus) called nattuwanars and the temple dancers, called Devadasis. In the sacred environment of the temple these families developed and propagated their heritage. The training traditionally took around seven years under the direction of the nattuwanar who were scholars and persons of great learning. The four great nattuwanars of Tanjore were known as the Tanjore Quartet and were brothers named Chinnaiah, Ponnaiah, Vadivelu and Shivanandam. The Bharata Natyam repertiore as we know it today was constructed by this talented Tanjore Quartet.

Bharata Natyam is poetry in motion. Tracing its hoary origins in the Natya Sastra, written by the great sage Bharata, it is a highly traditional & stylized dance form. Crystallized in the cast-iron mould of Bharata's technique, this art form grossly disallows new-fangled innovations or gimmicks except in repertoire & forms of presentation. Bharata Natyam has been immortalized in successive generations, as much by the sinuous grace of great dancers as by the nimble fingers of renowned sculptors who have demonstrated the perfection of Bharata's technique in the flowing lines of temple structures. Bharathanatyam's blend of the abstract & the emotional is derived from its fusion of two prime elements, nritta (pure dance or dance without interpretive meaning) & nritya (expressive dance).

Bharathanatyam derives much of its intense, dramatic impact from the juxtaposition & contrast with which both elements are utilized. Nritta comprises adavus, which are the basic dance units of Bharathanatyam. Each adavu contains 3 essential elements, a basic standing position (sthanaka), movement of the legs & feet (chari) & decorative hand gestures (nritta-hasta). Its present form was evolved by the Tanjore quartet namely Poniah Pillai & brothers. Earlier variedly known as Dasi Attam & Sadir, it was practised by Devadasis of the South Indian temples. It went into disrepute due to economic & social conditions & it was Rukmini Devi who gave it new life & respectability. Its format consists of Alarippu (invocation), Jathi Swaram (note combinations), Shabdam (notes & lyrics), Varnam (a combination of pure dance & abhinaya), lighter items like Padams & Javalis(all forms for storytelling and abhinaya) & finally the Thillana (again pure dance).