Adavu
Tamil
The basic unit of Bharatanatyam movement — its alphabet.
TechniqueBharatanatyam
Meaning
An adavu is a single unit of movement combining a foot position, a leg action, a hand gesture and a posture, performed to a rhythmic syllable. Adavus are learnt in families — tatta, natta, mettu, kudittametta and so on — and strung together they make every larger passage of pure dance. Schools differ on how many adavus there are and how they are grouped, which is one of the clearest markers of a bani.
Also written: adavus, adavoo