Bani

★ Essential

Tamil

A school or style of Bharatanatyam, carried down a lineage.

ConceptBharatanatyam

Meaning

A bani is a distinct style of Bharatanatyam associated with a place and a teaching lineage — Pandanallur, Vazhuvoor, Thanjavur, Kalakshetra and Melattur among them. Banis differ in the shape and number of adavus, the depth of the aramandi, the treatment of abhinaya and the repertoire favoured. A dancer's bani says who taught them, and their teacher's teacher.

Related words

GuruThe teacher, in a relationship closer than instruction.ParamparaAn unbroken line of transmission from guru to student.NavarasaThe nine sentiments of classical aesthetics.BhavaThe emotion the performer holds and conveys.ShishyaThe student in the guru-shishya relationship.Abhinaya DarpanaThe 'Mirror of Gesture' — the practical manual of expression.

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