More about Adavus

Let us explore on Adavus a little more. The word Adavu means basic step. Adavus forms the ABCs
of pure dancing(Nritta) in bharatanatyam. Just like a combination of alphabets give words and
thereafter sentences, adavus are combined to form a dance sequence in Bharatanatyam.

An Adavu is the combination of:
Position of the legs (Sthanakam)
Posture of our standing (Mandalam)
Walking movement (Chari)
Hand gestures (nritta hastas)

All the four done in synchronization with Rhythm or Tala is ADAVU. Every Adavu will have certain
number of steps and would have a BOL or Sollukattu or syllable like Tai Ya- Tai Hi.
Following are the Ten important Adavus that a new student is asked to practice thoroughly:

Tatta Adavu
Natta Adavu
Visharu Adavu (Mardita Adavu or Paraval Adavu)
TattimittiAdavu
Tirumanam Adavu
Murka Adavu
Jati Adavu
Kuditamitta Adavu
Mandi Adavu
Sarikal Adavu

Some parents and students have often asked me why should we learn these steps and not the dance
directly?
A child when starts schooling , learns the alphabets first. Imagine if they were taught words
directly!!!
Learning just the adavus and practicing them for a while helps the students to :
1. to develop flexibility and overcome the initial muscle cramps and sore feet at the beginning
stages.
2. attain right posture
3. develop stamina
4. become aware to the sense of Talam (Rhythm) and kalam (speed)
5. become Swift and agile and attain control over the body.
6.
Generally During the first year of Bharatanatyam coaching, a student is trained only in Adavus, and
Nritta Hasta or Hand Gestures. Gaining perfection over Adavus is the most important.










First Adavu in Bharatanatyam Tatta Adavu

The word Tatta literally means to tap. In this adavu, we are taught the Bharatanatyam way of leg
tapping. This adavu involves only the use of legs unlike most other adavus.
As described in earlier post More about Adavus, every adavu has a Bol or syllable. The Bol is used
to provide a rythym for the steps (like 1-2, 1-2-3 etc.) and also acts as a mnemonic for the steps. The
Bol for Tatta adavu is tai ya tai hi.

1) While doing this adavu, you need to be in the Ardhamandal(half sitting) posture.

2) Place your Palms on the waist with the inside of the palm facing outside.

3) Please try to keep a practice of starting every Adavu with your right side(leg in this adavu). So
first lift your right leg towards the inner thigh and then tap the floor with flat feet (say tai ya).

4) Once the right leg is grounded, repeat the same with the left leg (say tai hi).

5) Continue the steps (tai-ya, tai-hi) till you have a good feel of the step. We would practice each
step 30 times in around 3 minutes. Remember that the one tap each of left and right legs is counted
as one step.










Natta Adavu First Step
Natta means to stretch and so the Adavu involves some stretching compared to the Tatta
Adavuwe explored earlier. And compared to Tatta Adavu, the Natta adavu involves heel contacts of
the feet. Thus word Nattu in Tamil is also referred to Perching of heels. So get ready for some
stretching and synchronization of hands and legs!
The bols (sollukattu) for this Adavu is tai yum tat ta tai hi ya ha. You would see that the basic leg
postures used in this Adavu is Ardhamandal, Alidha , Anjitham, Agartalasancharam and Swastikam.

1. Keep both your hands stretched out in Tripataka mudra facing the floor and be seated in
Ardhamandal position.

2. Stretch your right leg in Alidha position (See Below). The right leg is stretched in such manner that
only the heel is resting on the floor and the toes are facing upwards. Also when one feet is flat and
the other one on the heel, the we say it is Anjitham. When one foot is pressed down on the toes
with heels lifted, it is called Agartalasancharam.

Simultaneously turn the right arm in Tripataka mudra to face up say tai yum. Note that the left
arm remains in Tripataka mudra facing down.

3. Bring your right leg back to Ardhamandal position with a tap and turn the right arm in Tripataka
mudra downwards as in 1 above (say tat ta).

4. Now, repeat the steps above on the left side. Stretch your left leg in Alidha position (left leg
stretched in such manner that the heel rests on the floor) and turn the left arm upwards so that
Tripataka gesture face the ceiling (say tai hi).

5. Bring your left leg back to Ardhamandal position with a tap and left arm in Tripataka mudra
downwards as in 1 above (say ya ha).
This completes a full set of tai yum tat ta tai hi ya ha and hence makes one count for the first Natta
Adavu step.
Natta Adavu Second Step

Hope you have read the post on the first step for Natta Adavu. The second step for Natta Adavu is
completely similar. The only change is that you have to repeat the actions twice on each side. This
would mean that the bols (sollukattu) tai yum tat ta tai hi ya ha is completed on one side before
moving to the other side.

1. Keep both your hands stretched out in Tripataka mudra facing the floor and be seated
inArdhamandal position.

2. Stretch your right leg in Alidha position. The right leg is stretched in such manner that only the
heel is resting on the floor and the toes are facing upwards. Simultaneously turn the right arm in
Tripataka mudra to face up say tai yum. Note that the left arm remains in Tripataka mudra facing
down.

3. Bring your right leg back to Ardhamandal position with a tap and turn the right arm in Tripataka
mudra downwards as in 1 above (say tat ta).

4. Again, repeat the steps above on same side (right). Stretch your right leg in Alidha position and
turn the right arm upwards so that Tripataka mudra face the ceiling (say tai hi).

5. Bring your right leg back to Ardhamandal position with a tap and right arm in Tripataka mudra
downwards as in 1 above (say ya ha). This completes one count for this step.

6. For the second count repeat the actions from two to five (above) on the left side. This completes
another count for this step.