Bharatanatyam is poetry in motion. Bharatanatyam, the classical dance form of South India, embodies music, dance, drama, poetry and mythology to create a complete and highly stylized artistic endeavor. The end result creates Rasa, which is the aesthetic emotion that ultimately transforms the audience.

Bharatanatyam's roots are thought to date back to the 5th century A.D. The word 'Bharata' is believed to derive from three main components: Bhava, emotion; Raga, melody; and Tala, rhythm. For the most part, this dance is a solo art form, historically performed in Hindu temples as a means of worship and devotion. The dancer draws from Hindu epics and mythology to create stories that are universally relevant.
Much of Indian dance and theatre is codified in an ancient treatise called the Natya Shastra, written by Sage Bharata. According to the Natya Shastra, classical dance has three distinct divisions: nritta (pure dance), nritya (dance combined with expressions) and natya (drama). Bharatanatyam is characterized by strong rhythmic patterns, lyrical expressiveness and sculpturesque poses reminiscent of the carvings found on Hindu temples, particularly the Chidambaram Temple in the South. Dance is incomplete without the music, which is the South Indian classical form known as Carnatic music. It is characterized by variations of melodious raga and rhythmic tala.