THE FORMAT OF BHARATANATYAM - ALARIPPU

The late E. Krishna Iyer, who played a decisive role in the renaissance of South India's classical dance and its nominal transformation from Sadir (also known as Dasiattam) to Bharatanatyam, was also a gifted performer of the art. He learnt all the essential items thoroughly and practised them assiduously and attained perfection in the art-form. With this first-hand knowledge, he wrote A Note on the Repertory from Alarippu to Thillana.

About alarippu he said:

"Alarippu is the shortest and simplest item of Bharatanatyam. It is primarily intended to be an invocatory piece for doing obeisance to the Gods and the assembly of onlookers. It is also said to mean the flowering or opening of the body and limbs to get prepared to execute more difficult pieces to be taken up subsequently. Hence it is a short piece with simple poses and movements in an equally simple tune and rhythm.