Alarippu
அலாரிப்புTamilSay it: a · laa · rip · pu
- aa ee oo ē ō — long vowels: hold them twice as long
The opening item — the body unfolding, like a flower.
RepertoireBharatanatyam
Meaning
Alarippu opens the traditional margam. It is pure nritta set to rhythmic syllables with no melody or lyrics, beginning with small movements of the eyes, neck and shoulders and gradually opening out into the full body. The name carries the sense of blossoming. It functions as both invocation and warm-up.