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Nadai

நடை
TamilSay it: na · ḍai
  • ṭ ḍ — t and d with the tongue tip curled back

The gait of the beat — how many syllables fill each count

RhythmBharatanatyamKuchipudiMohiniyattam

Meaning

Nadai, also called gati, is the subdivision of each beat: three syllables (tisra), four (chatusra), five (khanda), seven (misra) or nine (sankeerna). Changing the nadai while the tala stays the same gives a jathi a completely different feel.

Also written: nadai, gati, nadai bhedam

Sources

Related words

KalamकालSpeed level — first, second and third speed within the same talaLayaलयTempo — the speed at which the cycle moves.TalaतालThe rhythmic cycle a piece is set in.Tisra Jatiतिस्र जातिThe three-count class — sets the laghu at 3 beatsSollukattuசொல்லுக்கட்டுThe spoken rhythmic syllables dancers move to.JathiजतिA passage of pure rhythmic dance.

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