Synopsis Bharatanatyam is the soul of India. A sacred art that even three hundred years ago was as flourishing as it was three thousand years ago, had been left in ruins by the cultural patrons in India. Fortunately, there has been a revived interest in Bharatanatyam over the last fifty years that has taken both India and the West by storm. This revival and popularity springs from its eternal message that through dance each and every one of us can realise the divine spirit and true happiness within ourselves. The goal of this book is to facilitate the comprehension of this ancient dance for the dance student and layman both in India and in the West. It studies not only the origins, but also includes translations of technical and literary texts, and articles written by some leading Chennai (formerly Madras) based dancers on their view concerning the place and relevance of Bharatanatyam today.