ABSTRACT
This chapter explores bharatanatyam of Tamil Nadu, kathak of Uttar Pradesh, and kathakali of Kerala. Bharatanatyam is derived from sadir, a devotional dance form from South India practiced by devadasis, who performed ritual duties in temples and danced as professional entertainers in royal courts from the sixteenth to the early twentieth century. Devadasis were women whose lives were dedicated to serving Hindu temples in the South Indian province of Tamil Nadu from the sixteenth to the early twentieth century. Kathak derived from the tradition of the tawaifs, female performers who were professional entertainers at the North India royal courts during the Mughal Empire. Kathak combines both Muslim and Hindu influences, and is performed to Hindustani music. Kathakali was originally performed by men rigorously trained in kalaripayattu, a martial art practiced by the warrior caste. A kathakali percussion orchestra performs on stage right, while two to three singers stand center stage behind the actors.
