Nattuvanar
நட்டுவனார்TamilSay it: naṭ · ṭu · va · naar
- ṭ ḍ — t and d with the tongue tip curled back
- aa ee oo ē ō — long vowels: hold them twice as long
The conductor of a dance recital who recites the rhythm and plays cymbals
MusicBharatanatyam
Meaning
The nattuvanar leads the orchestra, recites the sollukattu and plays the cymbals in time with the dancer. Often the dancer's guru, the nattuvanar shapes the whole performance from the side of the stage.
Also written: nattuvanaar, nattuvan, nattuvanars