Bani
பாணி★ EssentialTamilSay it: paa · ṇi
- ṇ — n with the tongue tip curled back
- aa ee oo ē ō — long vowels: hold them twice as long
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.