Adavus, The Building Blocks

Adavus are he baby steps of Bharatanatyam. Any bharatanatyam dancer, at any level, is still connected by these basic steps that are drilled into muscles, from day one up until the professional level. While Adavus may just seem like the building blocks, the single steps that go into the graceful dances which make up Bharatanatyam, there is a specific, scientific reason behind these movements. Adavus are a combination of four formulaic positions. The sthanakam, or the position of the legs, the mandalam, or the body posture, chari, or the walking manner, and nritta hasta, or hand gestures. When all four are completed in complete unity, the perfect adavu is formed. This being said, there is still more codification that goes into the formation of adavus. There are ten types of adavus, each with a certain movement that they are based off of. These types are:

1.       Tatta Adavu (Tapping Step)

2.      Natta Adavu (Stretching Step)

3.      Visharu Adavu  (Intense Hand Movements)

4.      Mett Adavu (Heel Steps)

5.       Tirumanam Adavu (Concluding Steps)

6.      Murka Adavu (Turning Steps)

7.       Jati Adavu (Steps that bring of out Thaalam, or beat)

8.      Kuditamitta Adavu (Jumping on the toes, Striking the heels)

9.      Mandi Adavu (Fully Bent Knee Steps)

10.   Sarikal Adavu (Sliding Steps)

All students are expected to learn adavus before learning any dance, or any combination. This is to develop flexibility in initial stages, rather than struggling with steps later, to form the correct posture, to build up stamina, build up musicality, and be aware of the body.