bharata natya

noun

bhar·​a·​ta na·​tya

¦bər-ə-tə-ˈnä-tyə

variants or bharata natyam

¦bər-ə-tə-ˈnä-tyəm

: a traditional Indian dance formerly exclusively performed by devadasis compare kathak, kathakali, manipuri

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit bharatanāṭya, literally, Bharata's dancing, from Bharata, a sage reputed to be the author of the Natyashastra, a manual of dramatic art + -nāṭya dramatic art, dancing

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

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