Origin of the name BhavaRagaTala

The history of Bharatanatyam and those who chose the dance form as their profession has been a tumultuous one. It was not always called ‘Bharatanatyam.’ Originally, the artform was known as ‘sadhir’ or ‘dasiyattam.’ Where once it was the greatest privilege to be blessed by temple dancers during auspicious occasions, toward the 19th and 20th centuries their reputation was heavily tarnished and many dancers were forced to keep their talent a secret. In 1933, a need arose for the rebirth of the danceform formerly known as sadhir to recover from the negative connotation that had previously been ascribed to it. E. Krishna Iyer, then Secretary of the Music Academy in Madras, along with other patrons of the artform, chose the name ‘Bharata’ natyam for two reasons. One is in homage of the Sage Bharata, who compiled the Natya Shastra, the earliest master treatise from which the seven major dance forms of India sprang forth – Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Odissi. The other is because the components of this danceform are ‘Bhava’ – emotion, ‘Raga’ – music, and ‘Tala’ – rhythm – a trio of elements adapted from the penname of eminent music critic Dr. V. Raghavan (BhavaRagaTala).

Origin of our School

Since the early 90’s, Manohar Performing Arts of Canada, Inc. has garlanded the city of Winnipeg with multifaceted jewels in the form of Indian Dance.  In Colloboration with Manohar Performing Arts of Canada, BRT Academy of Dance & Music was established in the year 2012.