A Qualitative Interview Study to Illuminate the Lived Emotional, Physical, and Spiritual Impacts of Experienced Bharatanatyam Dancers

Abstract

Background

While some evidence suggests psychosocial and physical health benefits of Bharatanatyam (eg, Indian Classical Dance), no study has explored the lived experiences of Bharatanatyam dancers themselves and the value they place on this practice for their own well-being.

Objective

Using a qualitative methodology, the purpose of this study is to explore Bharatanatyam dancers’ perceptions of this practice and its impact on their lives.

Methods

Bharatanatyam dancers with at least 10 years of experience participated in a 60-minute recorded Zoom interview about their experience, history, and relationship with Bharatanatyam, with a focus on how it may have impacted their well-being. Using a Grounded Theory approach, research team members engaged in open coding to create an initial codebook from the first transcript, and then took an interrater reliability test (Kappa >.70) before coding subsequent transcripts. Group-based axial coding was used to create higher-order categories and themes from the original codes. Saturation was documented.

Results

In total, 15 Bharatanatyam dancers were interviewed, resulting in 206 unique codes. Saturation was met for 82% of the codes. Axial coding yielded 27 higher-order categories, and five overarching themes: (1) “Foundations of Bharatanatyam”, which highlighted important aspects of the practice (2) “Heightened Connections” across emotional, spiritual, community, and cultural areas, (3) “Improvements in Mind/Body/Spirit” highlighting increased emotional, physical, cognitive, and energetic wellbeing, (4) “Motivations and Challenges for the Practice” such as perceived benefits and practice barriers, and (5) “Processes of Practice” highlighting the dynamic and stylistic nature of the art form.

Conclusion

This study offers evidence that Bharatanatyam plays a role in a dancer’s well-being through heightened connection and improvement in physical and mental health; knowledge which can help transform its role from a mere artform to a creative healthcare modality.

Introduction

A growing body of evidence suggests the mental and physical health benefits of movement-based practices.^1,3 Physical movement has been shown to improve mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and promote mind-body awareness through biological mechanisms such as endorphin release and neuroplasticity.^1-3 In this context, there is evidence that dance/movement therapy (DMT) has been used to enhance emotional expression, foster cognitive and social integration, and support trauma recovery - even alleviating symptoms of depression. ²

Dating back to the fourth century, Bharatanatyam is a type of Indian Classical Dance (ICD) that has played an integral role in the cultural landscape of Southern India. Bharatanatyam encompasses traditional music, rhythm, nritta (abstract, technical movement), and abhinaya (the use of motion, hand gestures, and facial expressions to storytell). ⁴ Bharatanatyam has been passed down through generations, often taught to young girls, due to its rich history and connection to a shared cultural belief system. ⁵ Beyond its cultural significance in Southern India, growing research over the past decade has examined the role of ICD as a movement-based practice in enhancing wellbeing, reporting significant benefits to one’s physical and emotional health. ⁶ Classical Indian dance forms such as Bharatanatyam offer potential in integrative health in its capacity to support emotional regulation and cultural identity through movement and expression. ⁶

Bharatanatyam dancers often report physical and mental benefits from practicing ICD, such as flexibility, stamina, balance, and concentration. Studies show the technique and form of the art improve balance, coordination, and core muscle strength. ⁷ Alongside physical benefits, practicing ICD has been shown to support creative aging, promotes lifelong scholarship, and strengthens cultural connection. ⁸ Studies among traditional dancers in Odisha, India show evidence of a link between the practice of ICD, emotional maturity, self-esteem, and ultimately life satisfaction. ⁶ Similarly, in a study conducted by members of our research team, initial evidence demonstrated that Bharatanatyam was associated with improvements in emotional and physical health and increased intercultural awareness among inexperienced high school students participating in an 8-week course.^9,10

Despite our increasing understanding of the psychosocial, cultural, and physical health benefits of ICD, to date, no study has attempted to understand the lived experience of Bharatanatyam dancers themselves and learn about the knowledge and value they may place on this practice. This qualitative study aims to better understand the lived experiences and impact of ICD on the well-being and quality of life of experienced Bharatanatyam dancers. The research team conducted individual in-depth qualitative interviews with Bharatanatyam teachers and students with over a decade’s experience with the art form.

Methods

This study was approved by the Internal Review Board at Northwestern University (#STU00219416). Inclusion criteria included participants to be at least 18 years of age, have at least 10 years of experience teaching (classified as a teacher) or learning Bharatanatyam (classified as a student), to speak and write English fluently, and to reside in either the United States or India. Students and teachers of an informal Indian Classical dance network known by the first author (VG) were invited by the research team through email and phone to participate in the study to learn more about their experiences and perceptions of what Bharatanatyam has meant to them. Dancers resided in Texas (Dallas and San Antonio), New Jersey, and Chennai, India.

The interviewer knew several respondents informally through this network. From this initial network, a purposive, snowball sampling approach was utilized to enroll additional participants. Written informed consent was secured from each participant in accordance with ethical guidelines. An accrual goal of 15 interviews was set, allowing for a diverse sample in training, experiences, and geographical locations. The accrual goal was carefully selected to ensure rich, detailed data from each individual interview such that data saturation would be met. An equal number of dance students and teachers was sought during recruitment to reflect different age ranges and years of experience.

After providing informed consent, participants completed a 5-minute online socio-demographic form and scheduled an in-depth, one-time Zoom interview with a female, undergraduate research team member (VG). She received training in the conduct and analysis of qualitative interviews, with ongoing supervision from her research mentor (DV) who teaches graduate-level coursework on qualitative methods and analysis and has published widely on qualitative research studies. During interviews, participants were asked questions regarding their experience, history, and relationship with Bharatanatyam, as well as how it may have impacted their physical and emotional wellbeing (see Appendix I for sample questions). Interviews lasted approximately 60 minutes and were recorded and transcribed via Zoom. No other individuals were present beyond the interviewer/interviewee. Upon completion of interviews, the study investigators reviewed the quality of the recordings, transcripts, and interviewer field notes and de-identified them. Transcription documents were stored in the secure/password protected Northwestern University server accessible only to the research team and the recordings were destroyed upon study completion. The research team did not conduct member checks or provide transcripts to interviewees. The researchers adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines. ¹¹

An inductive, Grounded Theory analytic approach was used. ¹² Following the establishment of coding rules and assumptions (eg, exhaustive coding, coding phrases at the smallest unit of meaning, allowing multiple codes to be applied to the same passages), research team members trained in Grounded Theory-based qualitative analysis coded the data using Dedoose. ¹³ Dedoose is a collaborative, web-based application that facilitates mixed methods research data management and analysis. Per Grounded Theory, four research team members participated in open coding (VG, TC, AB, DV) to create an initial codebook from the first transcript. This was followed by an interrater reliability test, in which coders were required to achieve a Kappa >.70 before proceeding to code subsequent transcripts independently. Following this, coders engaged in focused coding, whereby they applied codes from the existing codebook to the remaining transcripts. As new codes emerged, they were included in the codebook for all coders to use. Once all transcripts were coded, codes were reviewed and, in some cases, redundant codes were combined. Following this, group-based axial coding was used to create higher-order categories from the original codes. Constant comparative methods were used during this process. Once a more refined group of higher order categories were created, selective coding was completed to distill categories into higher order themes. Thick, rich data were captured throughout by coding participant statements and anecdotes that epitomized the meaning of themes. Data saturation was tracked to determine when no new codes were emerging from the source data.

The researcher (VG) acknowledges their dual role as an investigator and Bharatanatyam dancer may affect the way they interpret participants’ experiences. To minimize the influence of potential biases in analysis, the researcher (VG) has engaged in ongoing reflexivity. This has included consistency and group alignment in the analysis of participant interviews through establishing interrater reliability. The research team is committed to reporting this study with integrity ensuring analysis of direct participant quotes. Data analysis was approached through an integrative health lens.

Results

In total, 15 Bharatanatyam dancers of varying expertise, training, and socio-demographic characteristics were interviewed. See Table 1. All invited, eligible participants agreed to participate. Participant affiliations reflected a wide range of engagement within Bharatanatyam dance culture. Several individuals identified as having multiple dance affiliations, such as students, performers, professionals in other fields, and educators. Several individuals (n = 9) were currently enrolled in dance schools, from which some (n = 4) were also members of university dance teams. Other individuals (n = 5) were affiliated with dance companies, while also performing on a part-time basis. Four individuals identified as independent performing artists, including one whose full-time occupation was as an independent Bharatanatyam performer. Others (n = 4) reported working full-time jobs outside of Bharatanatyam, although they continued to perform as part of a dance company. One individual was the director of a Bharatanatyam dance school and had also completed formal training at a university-level dance program. Several individuals (n = 6) reported occasionally performing while balanced their dancing pursuits with other professional or academic responsibilities. This range of roles highlights the multifaceted ways in which interviewees engage with Indian classical dance, blending formal training, performance, and other life commitments.

Table 1.

Sociodemographic Characteristics (n = 15)

	Mean (standard deviation)	Range	Percent
Age	35.7 (14.2)	19-56	--
Female	--	--	100.0%
Years of experience	--	--
10-15 years	--	--	20.0%
15-20 years	--	--	20.0%
20-25 years	--	--	6.7%
25-30 years	--	--	6.7%
30+ years	--	--	46.7%
Status	--	--
Student	--	--	46.7%
Teacher	--	--	53.3%
Country of residence	--	--
United States	--	--	86.7%
India	--	--	13.3%

In total, 206 unique codes were applied across the 15 transcripts. Saturation was met for 82% of the codes, suggesting that most comments were reinforced by multiple interviewees. Codes, categories, themes, and a saturation grid is outlined in Table 2.

Table 2.

Codes, Categories, Themes and Saturation Grid

Codes	Interviews																Themes
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Categories
Bharatanatyam as storytelling		X	X		X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Importance of connection to stories and characters	Foundations of Bharatanatyam
Stories develop appreciation for Bharatanatyam		X							X	X	X	X		X
Bharatanatyam stories have universal themes		X				X	X		X	X
Feeling the emotion depicted by character		X	X	X	X	X	X		X		X		X	X
Connection with character					X					X		X	X		X
Understanding characters depicted					X	X			X	X		X	X	X	X
Importance of stories				X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X		X
Intensity of connection dictates quality of experience		X								X						Increases emotional connection with oneself
Arangetram builds stamina			X	X				X	X		X			X		Importance of arangetram experience
Arangetram heightens passion for Bharatanatyam				X			X	X	X	X	X	X
Bharatanatyam arangetram		X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X		X
Bharatanatyam choreography							X						X		X	Importance of choreography in Bharatanatyam
Process of creating choreography					X		X	X					X
Putting on costume signifies performance			X					X			X					Importance of costume in Bharatanatyam
Costume brings discipline					X			X						X
Costume heightens experience					X		X	X			X
Costume as connection to heritage		X					X		X			X		X
Costume as connection to spirituality		X							X					X
Costume as self-expression					X				X
Intentionality of Bharatanatyam costume									X		X			X
Has lowered amount of makeup worn									X
Importance of carnatic music	X	X									X		X		X	Importance of music in Bharatanatyam
Importance of lyrics in music					X						X		X
Characteristics of good music					X						X
Role of music in Bharatanatyam	X				X						X	X	X	X	X
Music helps connect the dancer to the choreography	X		X		X					X	X	X			X
Yoga in Bharatanatyam									X				X	X	X	Importance of yoga in Bharatanatyam
Yoga as conditioning energy		X							X				X		X
Guru’s influence on Bharatanatyam experience	X		X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X		X			Importance of guru-sishya relationship
Guru’s influence on style of Bharatanatyam	X	X					X	X	X		X		X
Positive relationship with guru can enhance experience		X						X	X	X	X		X
Guru instilling respect for others	X		X
Guru teaches the importance of self-accountability		X				X		X	X		X	X		X	X
Teaching Bharatanatyam develops appreciation	X				X		X					X	X	X	X
Teaching has allowed for a new perspective	X				X				X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Bharatanatyam as Indian heritage		X		X					X	X				X		Increased cultural connection through dance	Heightened connections
Bharatanatyam as a vehicle for heritage		X							X	X					X
Bharatanatyam as cultural representation								X	X		X				X
Bharatanatyam as cultural tie		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X		X	X
Bharatanatyam as language		X		X					X	X			X
Universal themes in Indian heritage		X					X	X	X	X
Bharatanatyam lessons apply to everyday life				X							X			X
Bharatanatyam as emotional connector	X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Increased emotional connection through dance
Chasing performance perfection as emotional connector					X						X
Playing a character to experience new emotions		X						X		X		X	X		X
Emotional connection depends on outside experiences	X
Master dance to get into emotional side	X		X				X		X		X
Performance allows greater emotional connection	X		X	X									X
Out of body experience			X					X	X	X						Increased spiritual connection through dance
Bharatanatyam as blessings				X										X
Bharatanatyam as connection to past				X						X		X
Bharatanatyam as connection to something bigger				X		X		X		X		X
Bharatanatyam as connection to universe				X					X	X					X
Bharatanatyam as prayer				X		X
Bharatanatyam as spiritual connector		X		X			X		X	X		X	X	X
Bharatanatyam develops spiritual learning		X							X	X
Bharatanatyam relation to Hinduism		X	X	X		X
Connection to god gives energy		X								X				X
Stories connection to God					X		X	X						X
Bharatanatyam as community					X		X	X			X			X	X	Increased connection to community through dance
Bharatanatyam develops sense of community	X	X	X	X			X	X			X				X
Part of dance company															X
Part of dance team		X	X					X
Bharatanatyam develops curiosity for the artform		X							X	X						Cultivates positive emotions & mindset	Improvement in mind/body/spirit
Bharatanatyam as developing identity	X			X			X	X			X	X
Dancing makes you a good human being														X
Bharatanatyam instills respect	X		X
Feels accomplished								X			X
Feels freedom to be oneself	X										X
Bharatanatyam as bliss/joy	X								X	X		X		X
Watching others to develop emotional intelligence				X		X		X		X					X
Bharatanatyam improves empathy					X			X					X		X
Bharatanatyam develops discipline		X	X			X	X	X							X
Bharatanatyam fosters growth				X		X					X	X		X	X
Dancing for self encourages reflection		X										X		X
Dancing helps build confidence			X				X								X
Dancing teaches humility						X
Openness to continue learning		X	X											X	X
Bharatanatyam as building as resilience									X
Bharatanatyam as self-expression	X										X	X		X
Develops individuality				X				X		X			X
Developed appreciation for Bharatanatyam		X						X	X	X	X		X		X
Balance between physical and mental	X					X		X
Bharatanatyam as developing independence											X
Feels catharsis when dancing		X			X			X
Feels happy when dancing					X			X				X
Satisfaction from watching other dancers					X		X	X							X
Feeling centered/grounded in what you’re doing when dancing		X								X			X
Performance improves emotional intelligence				X		X		X		X					X
Performing brings joy	X				X	X						X
Dancing keeps mind sharp				X				X						X		Improves cognitive wellbeing
Bharatanatyam builds self-motivation				X										X
Bharatanatyam improves time management				X							X
Bharatanatyam improves mental health											X		X			Improves emotional wellbeing
Dancing and positive mood improvement			X								X		X
Bharatanatyam’s contribution to overall wellbeing		X								X	X	X	X	X	X
Feels less stressed after practice		X									X			X
Bharatanatyam predicted longevity				X												Improves physical wellbeing
Bharatanatyam improves sleep				X
Feels refreshed physically		X								X					X
Feels relaxed											X		X
Doesn’t feel tired when dancing				X
Bharatanatyam makes other dancing easier									X
Bharatanatyam builds stamina			X	X				X	X		X			X
Bharatanatyam improves balance					X
Bharatanatyam as cardio/exercise		X	X	X		X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X
Enjoy the physicality of dance						X		X		X		X		X	X
Feels energy		X		X	X						X		X			Cultivation of energy
Bharatanatyam as controlling energy		X											X
Bharatanatyam as a channel for energy		X		X					X	X				X
Bharatanatyam as a vehicle to grow energy within		X		X				X
Dancing with others amplifies energy		X								X		X			X
Feels energized		X						X			X
Dancing supports bodily changes	X															Motivations for practice	Motivations & challenges for practice
Dancing to develop cultural identity	X	X				X	X	X		X					X
Art form as motivator				X			X		X			X
Personal growth as motivator		X				X					X	X		X
Cultural bridge as motivator		X			X						X
Dancing to cope with stress				X				X			X
Dancing to connect with family	X	X	X					X		X	X	X		X
Dancing to overcome language barrier		X													X
Joy of performing as motivator	X		X			X		X		X		X
Watching other dancers as motivator					X			X						X	X
Grew passion by watching other dancers				X				X		X	X	X		X	X
Community as motivator	X			X			X	X			X		X
Bharatanatyam as hobby					X										X
Positive relationship with guru as motivator for Bharatanatyam		X						X	X	X	X		X
Parental pressure	X	X	X	X			X		X		X
Did not enjoy performing							X									Barriers to performing Bharatanatyam
Nervousness when performing					X								X
Stress when performing				X			X	X			X		X	X
Tendency to impress when performing distracts from self-reflection		X				X		X					X
Tendency to over-analyze post-performance								X				X
Financial challenge of Bharatanatyam	X															Barriers to pursuing Bharatanatyam
History of Bharatanatyam is controversial															X
Large time commitment	X					X	X
Switching gurus as challenge	X						X									Barriers to sticking with Bharatanatyam
Lack of standardization in Bharatanatyam		X
Prior notions from dance can hinder community building		X												X	X
Dance communities as toxic			X												X
Negative experiences with guru can limit fulfillment	X
Social expectations of women as challenge													X
External environment not as conducive to culture									X	X		X
Challenge of differentiating yourself from character								X		X			X		X	Challenges of connecting to a piece
Connecting to dances as a challenge				X		X			X			X
Connection to stories as challenge						X
Stories are no longer relevant	X					X
Carnatic music is difficult		X
Dancers today are not as passionate														X		Criticism of Bharatanatyam dancers today
Bharatanatyam as commercialized/materialistic														X
Stamina as a challenge						X										Physical challenges of being a dancer
Injury caused by practice	X								X	X	X		X		X
Learning as challenge					X		X	X				X	X	X
Overcoming pain		X								X
Weight as a factor for dancing experience	X
Forcing physical challenges on dancer						X	X	X	X	X	X		X		X
Feeling heaviness in body after not dancing						X
Bharatanatyam as physically demanding	X					X	X	X	X	X	X		X	X	X
Unreasonable expectations for frequency of practice required															X
Importance of conditioning body for dance						X				X					X
Bharatanatyam as evolving															X	Bharatanatyam as a dynamic artform	Processes of practice
Bharatanatyam as living artform		X				X	X							X	X
Bharatanatyam as transforming							X
Bharatanatyam develops body language									X							Bharatanatyam as a technical artform
Bharatanatyam as acting									X			X
Bharatanatyam as aesthetics
Bharatanatyam as Indian ballet		X					X				X
Bharatanatyam as technique based								X	X
Role of anatomy in dance steps									X
Intentional breathing to refocus		X
Different interpretations are exciting	X															Different styles of practice
Different styles of Bharatanatyam		X									X
Different types of students in Bharatanatyam							X
Bharatanatyam experience varies between individuals	X
Develops comfort with pieces					X											Stages of learning a piece
Initially views pieces technically					X			X
Need to study and research each piece	X

Note: X = code was applied in interview.

Participants highlighted a variety of experiences related to physical, cultural, emotional, and spiritual aspects of their learnings. In this section, we highlight codes and reflections related to participants’ perceived impact of Bharatanatyam on quality of life and wellbeing. Axial coding yielded 27 higher-order categories, and five overarching themes.

Each theme is represented by several subcategories, with specific codes populating each one. We describe each one below.

Theme 1: Foundations of Bharatanatyam

Foundations of Bharatanatyam highlights quintessential elements of the practice and their intersections among each other to define modern day Bharatanatyam. The foundation is characterized by four distinct categories: (1) the importance of connection to characters and stories, (2) Carnatic music (classical south Indian music), (3) the arangetram (solo debut performance) experience, and (4) the Guru-Sishya (Teacher-student) relationship. Each is described below.

Importance of Connection to Characters and Stories

Many participants shared that Bharatanatyam’s keystone of storytelling involves a deeper connection to the mythological stories depicted and emotionally rich characters portrayed. One participant (P10) stated, “I love it because really it takes a lot of understanding of yourself and understanding of others to be able to effectively communicate a character… it does take a huge amount of introspection, which I think is so necessary for growth and for learning and for change in any way.”

When asked about how relevant the stories depicted in Bharatanatyam are, one participant (P13) shared,

“Some of them are true stories. Some of them are imagination. That's how it will always be. But when you pick up a book and you start reading, you start identifying with some of these characters. You start identifying with some of these situations. It's the same.” they explain “more of you is vested in it… You're going at it with your entire system… So, the intensity with which it hits you is a little more, and it becomes very personal sometimes.”

Most participants shared the craftsmanship of Bharatanatyam choreographers extends far beyond the physical movements of the dance, resonating with deeper themes seen in everyday life. One participant (P13) remains in awe of early nattuvanars (predominantly a man who accompanied the early Devadasi as a Guru, percussionist, and vocalist).

“It is so amazing to see how these choreographers have gotten into this woman's psyche. In entertainment today, sometimes it pains me so much to see how hard people struggle to portray women. These old generation Bharatanatyam choreographers, meanwhile, have done such an amazing job. If you take their work, you will actually be blown away by it. Some of the content is very unfiltered, it's very naturally feminine. And the poets are not women, these poets are men, and the choreographers are men, but they've gotten so close to the women's psyche. It's freaky.” (P13)

Importance of Guru Sishya Relationship

Expressed by almost all participants was the significance of the Guru-Sishya in Bharatanatyam education. The Guru–Siṣhya relationship is distinguished by a personalized mode of mentorship, where the teacher provides not only technical training, but also broader guidance aimed at the disciple’s intellectual, artistic, and ethical growth. One participant shared (P9), “Essentially a torch was lit inside of me by my guru.” They go on to explain it would be unimaginable to experience a life without a Guru as a guide:

“My guru once asked me ‘what has Bharatanatyam given you?’ I imagine going through life not having anyone ask you that, you know, and many people do. Many people don't have a Guru relationship. Many people don't even have an art form that they practice. Many people don't have teachers outside of school that are one on one that really like to dedicate their time and their energy for your betterment.”

The Arangetram Experience

The arangetram, or a dancer’s premiere solo dance debut, was mentioned repeatedly as a young dancer’s turning point with the artform. From a Guru perspective, the arangetram is a time where a student comes out of their shell and is ready to begin embracing the artform. One participant (P7) explains “I do feel that my choreography differs from student to student. I try to highlight their strengths, and perhaps you know, not bring attention to their weaknesses when I’m choreographing.”

Another participant recalls their own experience (P4), “I think the arangetram process really helped me grow as a dancer. But then it also helped heighten my interest, my passion for Bharatanatyam, because I was able to see how much went into doing such a big performance, how much I have to practice, and the amount of time that I have to devote to this artform.”

One participant explains that there are inherently dancer aspects of it (P8), “Being able to build up that stamina, being able to learn and memorize all of these dances into muscle memory, thinking through all of the abhinaya parts of these dances…” But also, the arangetram is a thorough depiction of “all of the other aspects that make a performance what it is like live music, audio, lights, and brochures, decorations, all of what makes a performance like a cohesive unit.”

Theme 2: Heightened Connections

Heightened Connections explores the fostering of (1) emotional, (2) spiritual, (3) community, and (4) cultural connection as one dances. Each is described below.

Emotional Connector

Many participants shared that the process of depicting different characters, invoking emotional expressions that they did not necessarily see in typical daily life, eventually translated into improvement in their emotional intelligence. One participant (P8) shares, “I think dancing teaches you empathy, to understand other people around you, because you’ve probably experienced their emotions in a character, even if you didn’t in a normal, everyday setting.”

One participant (P13) shared that their experience depicting new characters in heightened emotions relayed in post-performance effects. “There was an intense expressional piece I would dance enacting an angered Durga Devi. Every time I dance it, I’ll get a fever. Because it’s very consuming of you. Sometimes I struggle to hold back what I give. I didn’t know what was happening, like ‘can it be a coincidence, or what?’”

Another participant (P9) explains that these deeper emotional connections led to a deeper passion for the artform. “My adoration for the practice came out when I met the practice at a level of me understanding the emotions that were available in the pieces.”

Spiritual Connector

Many participants shared that they felt they were part of something bigger and that Bharatanatyam was a vehicle for them to connect to a grand, universal energy. One participant (P14), “Any artform, I consider it as divine. It’s the direct connection between the microsome and the macrosome, which is there inside us. It talks to nature. It talks to the world. If you believe in God, it talks to God. It’s the language of our soul.”

Participants explained that this art restored a faith in their spirit and instilled the concept of being part of something much larger than a mere dance form. One participant (P10) shares,

“I need to feel like I'm connected to the people that I see, to history, to the future, to the divine, to myself. Which includes my physical body but is not limited to my physical body. I think that's really important to me, and I think that through teaching, and through practicing and through choreography I am able to kind of connect to different aspects of that at different times.”

Community Connector

Participants also shared that the art was instrumental in invoking feelings of community and belonging—by going to dance practices, performing, and being part of dance schools, teams, and companies, they felt represented and part of a community that they felt was home. It was a shared journey that these dancers embarked on. One participant shared (P8), “I think I definitely can hold a conversation with dancers longer, because they experience so much. There’s so much to talk about, it’s such a deep practice and hobby.”

Cultural Connector

Participants shared Bharatanatyam’s ability to act as a cultural bridge, especially seen in participants predominantly located and trained in the United States. One participant (P2) shares the role that Bharatanatyam plays in cultural identity:

“There's definitely an aspect of being a bridge to my culture that's like one of the biggest things. I have 2 languages in my immediate family, and I don't know either of them fluently. And so, dance has always been a language for me. It is something that I can connect with my extended family in India more closely than, honestly speaking, in my languages.”

Theme 3: Improvements in Mind, Body, and Spirit

Improvements in mind, body, and spirit health highlights increased emotional, physical, cognitive, and energetic well-being. These are improvements characterized by five unique categories: (1) identity formation, (2) improvements in cognitive well-being, (3) cultivation of positive emotions and mindset, (4) cultivation of energy, and (5) improvements in physical wellbeing. Each is described below.

Identity Formation

Many participants shared that their Bharatanatyam journeys have become integral in fostering a sense of self and identity. One participant (P13) shared “Bharatanatyam has that element in the sense that you cannot separate the physical act of performing from the rest of your existence. It comes as a package.” Another participant (P7) when asked why Bharatanatyam has remained such an important part of their life says, “It’s hard to say, because it’s such a huge part of my life” consistently reiterating, “It’s who I am. It’s just a part of me. It’s who I am.”

Improvements in Cognitive Wellbeing

Many participants shared that their Bharatanatyam practice has left them with an improved sense of cognitive wellbeing. One participant (P6) shared that Bharatanatyam has instilled resilience and perseverance that is transferable among diverse facets of their life across academics, work, and personal life.

“I think dance has taught me so many times that it just needs a new perspective, or it just needs a new mind. I think dance also taught us that we have to go back to the foundation. We have to go back to the roots of what we already know and how we can look at it differently. And I think that's a lot of the reflection I still take in my career…I think it's built a lot of resilience in my mind.”

Cultivation of Positive Emotions and Mindset

Many participants shared that practice and performance of the art triggered the cultivation of positive emotions and mindset. Bharatanatyam practice was part of why they developed positive qualities such as discipline, self-reflection, confidence, humility, individuality, independence, and even feeling grounded and more centered in the intentions of their actions. One participant (P6) continues to share,

“I've fallen down or lost this opportunity, but it doesn't mean I'm going to not get another, or I'm not going to work towards another. It definitely built a lot of resilience, sort of a dedication, towards a certain goal. It's almost like a penance we've done with dance towards that goal of finishing this piece or finishing to the next one and becoming a better dancer. There's always going to be something next. And that's what's beautiful about it. There's no end in knowledge. It's always rolling. There's always something new. There's always something at another angle. I think that reflects in my life very closely to dance.”

Cultivation of Energy

Participants shared the artform’s role in cultivating, controlling, and channeling energy. This universal energy was amplified through practicing dance and rich in its ability to catalyze connection. One participant (P9) states,

“It is an Indian form of embodying the human experience in all of its facets, in all of its colors, and all of its breadth.[Bharatanatyam is] this way of instilling all of this knowledge down into the body, and expressing that through artform, and through beat pattern, and through sound, and through motions, and through all of the languages that we get to speak—all of these embodiments that we get to have as human beings.”

Another participant (P2) shares a similar sentiment,

“Bharatanatyam is a vehicle for me. It's not only to explore the Indian heritage, but the Indian heritage in and of itself is a vehicle to explore this universal consciousness. So, dance exists beyond all of us, because of the message that it provides, connecting to that divine sense that is within you. You're really connecting with yourself through dance. And it is through these movements that you get to harness that energy and connect within you. And I think that is bigger than all of us. It’s bigger beyond, like this materialistic sense. And so, you're exploring the spirit through dance. I also think that it really connects you to who you truly are. And that's something that is just—it is a concept that is beyond, just like dancing for the sake of dancing. We have a very spiritual and divine component to Bharatanatyam, and I think that's what makes it so beautiful.”

Improvements in Physical Wellbeing

Participants also shared enhanced physical wellbeing through practice. One participant (P6) shares, “Physiologically, it is so important in training your brain, training your mind, your body, your heart.”

Theme 4: Motivations and Challenges for the Practice

Motivations and Challenges for the Practice underscores the perceived benefits and practice barriers of the art. These are rationales characterized by ten different categories: (1) feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction, (2) being part of something bigger, (3) endless learning opportunity, (4) cultural bridge as a motivator, (5) watching others dance, (6) feelings during performance, (7) stress relief, (8) physical challenges, (9) challenges of connecting to stories, and 10) pressures of performance. Each is described below.

Feelings of Accomplishment and Satisfaction

Many participants shared the satisfaction felt upon learning new choreography, practicing, and performing. One participant (P15) explains,

“There is a point at which I feel like my entire body works together to accomplish something. It comes into unity, it sort of becomes one, and it's not separate. I'm not exercising separate muscles. It's all working together to do something. I can feel that. I can feel it coming together to do something.”

Being Part of Something Bigger

As mentioned previously, the notion of being part of something bigger has been a reaped benefit of practice. From a guru’s perspective, one participant (P15) shared “I’ve started to value that now I’m responsible for creating that connection… that really beautiful connection between people and dance.” Another participant (P9) shared, “The myths are told, and then we experience them, and we tell them through our body, and until you are ready for that knowledge, it won’t make sense. That’s why Bharatanatyam is really important because it keeps the myths alive. When people are ready to hear it, it changes their life.” (P9)

Endless Learning Opportunity Even as a Teacher

Participants shared the sentiment that learning is endless in Bharatanatyam practice. One participant (P14) shared, “My students take me as a teacher, but as far as the art form goes. I’m still a student. I keep going.”

Cultural Bridge as a Motivator

Many participants, especially those based in the US, were keen on Bharatanatyam acting as a cultural bridge to Indian heritage. One participant (P11) explains,

“You kind of form like this community with a bunch of people who have the same cultural identity. And you kind of feel a sense of pride like, ‘Oh, my God! Like wow! Like I'm doing something that so many people are fascinated by.’ So that was definitely a big part of why I continued.”

Watching Others Dance

Participants shared that not only does dancing grow their passion, but watching other dance appears to have a similar effect. One participant (P5) explains that when they come across a good dancer. “It is completely satisfying, and most of the time it makes me want to go home and practice. You know it instills that. ‘Oh, my God, I want to get to that. I want to be able to do that.’”

Feeling of Performance

A huge aspect of Bharatanatyam is the rush of a performance and the beauty of visual aesthetics in costume, choreography. One participant (P8) explains,

“You feel confident. You feel majestic. You feel beautiful. You look good, because we put a lot of time into looking good. And so, I think, knowing that you're presenting yourself on stage in a way that is aesthetic- visually helps people fall in love with the art form and fall in love with what you're doing and pay attention.”

Stress Relief

Participants echoed the ability of dance to act as a stress reliever. Despite being a time commitment, one participant (P4) shares, “Even having to do these extra practices or go to extra classes. It didn’t feel like a burden to me at all. It just felt like a great way to kind of take my mind off some of the other things that were going on and be able to kind of have some movement in my day.”

Physical Challenges

Many participants resonated with the physical demand and rigor that Bharatanatyam places on dancers’ bodies. One participant (P10) shares,

“I've had so many injuries over many decades of my life. I think if it's not done properly, you can definitely weaken your joints. Things like that which later can lead to injuries and can be impediments. But if done properly, the way that it's taught, the way that it's supposed to be done. It's beautiful.”

This same participant went on to share that physical injury by no means is an end-all be-all, stating, “Even if injured, I think there are ways to modify movements” (P10)

Connecting to Stories as a Challenge

Participants shared that sometimes the mythological stories they depict can pose struggles of connection or relevance. One participant (P15) shares. “Honestly [the challenge] is to find where there is a connection, because so many of the stories certainly wouldn’t happen today.” (P15)

Pressure of Performance

Participants also shared that performance, while joyous, can be a stressful experience. One participant (P8) explains, they are often thinking “okay, like this has to be perfect, like, I have to get everything right.”

Theme 5: Processes of the Practice

Processes of practice embraces the dynamic and stylistic nature of the artform. Bharatanatyam is an art of many styles and harbors a variety of learning processes. This theme explored more of the journey of learning a piece and the somatic, living, evolving nature of Bharatanatyam to withstand centuries of history. This can be characterized by two unique categories: (1) Bharatanatyam as evolving and learning and (2) Bharatanatyam as dynamic. Each is described below.

Bharatanatyam as Evolving and Learning

Bharatanatyam was explained to be a living artform. One participant (P2) explains, “Even though it’s been a few 1000 years now, right now it is a learning, living art form. And we are the ones who continue it right? So, I am constantly learning. I have pretty much more appreciation and wonder for the art form because of all that we pass on.” Another participant (P15) adds, “Bharatanatyam is meant to change. It was never meant to stay the same.”

Bharatanatyam as Dynamic

Participants explain that even a singular dance be dynamic in its lasting reach.

“And that's the brilliant concept that's in Bharatanatyam. They say every time you perform it’s new. It's new because the audience is different most of the time. The same person is in a different mental state each time they watch. When you're watching yourself, you're not always in the same mental state. So, you know, it's always new. It's the same piece. But then, you know, it's you differently each time.” (P13)

In terms of learning a piece, that process is also dynamic. One participant (P5) shares,

“As I get more comfortable with the piece, it's about trying to get that feeling out of being, you know, mindful about thinking or having a dialogue, as we learned. And then again, eventually, really, the goal is to not think at all and just have the movement happen. So eventually, I think I reach that in most of the pieces, but not always, and not in all the pieces. But that's usually the way it goes. You know the evolution of my thoughts. It's very, very technical, very, very calculated, then less so, and then hopefully no thinking at all. Just listening to the music. Just dancing”

Bharatanatyam also remains versatile in its opportunity for dancers, it can be still, iconic art, but also dynamic in its presentation. One participant explains (P15),

“Even if my knees completely give out, I can't dance. There are still things about Bharatanatyam I can be a part of. I can still be a part of the community. I can still teach. There's still choreography. There's just so many still, ongoing aspects to that, you know, even when you are not able to be a dancer directly. You could still be involved in. And there's a lot of people who themselves are not made to be a dancer, but love doing that too. It offers potential and in different aspects. I think there's a lot of capacity there to fulfill on these various levels. If you're getting something from Bharatanatyam in different dimensions… I think it's going to kind of hit you at the wellbeing level.”

Bringing Themes Together into a Conceptual Framework

Please see Figure 1 for a visual depiction of our concepts and themes. This framework depicts the five interrelated themes that emerged from participants’ experiences with Bharatanatyam. At the heart of the model is Foundations of Bharatanatyam, which are shaped by and shapes each of the surrounding domains. These foundational elements - storytelling, music, choreography, costume, yoga and the Guru-Sishya relationship - are the center upon which Bharatanatyam practice is built. These foundations enable and inform the dynamic processes of practice which include the technical, stylistic and developmental aspects of engaging with the art form. Together these create the conditions for heightened connections to emerge, connections to self, others, community, heritage and something greater. These in turn lead to improvements in mind, body and spirit, such as emotional expression, confidence, discipline, physical vitality and spiritual meaning. Motivations and challenges for practice underlie all parts of this framework. For some dancer’s motivations like cultural identity, community and personal growth drive deeper engagement. For others, challenges like physical demands, social barriers and critical perceptions may block progress or prompt reflection. This theme is both a catalyst and a constraint, which shapes the dancer’s journey. This conceptual organization depicts an ongoing, evolving, and blooming process. Dancers may return to these foundations with increased understanding over time. Overall, this conceptual framework illustrates how Bharatanatyam serves as both an ancient form of artistic and cultural expression, as well as a powerful tool for personal growth, identity development, and well-being.

Figure 1.

Conceptual Framework of the Bharatanatyam Experience

Discussion

Our analysis of the lived experiences of Bharatanatyam dancers demonstrates the significant role Bharatanatyam plays in dancers’ lives. Much like Behera and Rangaiah’s Odissi dancers, Bharatanatyam dancers interviewed described the art as positively impacting their well-being, through emotional maturity and formation of identity, which in turn has notable effects on life satisfaction. ⁶

This study simultaneously reinforced the previous findings by members of our own research team.^9,10 In our 8-week Bharatanatyam course, participants stated that Bharatanatyam facilitated improvements in mind-body-and spiritual health and that the artform was their primary mode of exercise. It also improved participants’ sense of empathy and cultural awareness, especially in those based in the US. It is possible that this difference in cultural awareness between US and India-based dancers is due to differences in the degree of exposure to Bharatanatyam’s Indian heritage. Given India-based dancers are closer in proximity to the artform’s roots, they may have supplemental cultural education that reinforces their awareness. It is possible that for US dancers, conversely, that their Bharatanatyam instruction is the sole medium in which they can develop a sense of cultural awareness.

Similarly, in Parthasarathy’s study, inexperienced Bharatanatyam dancers shared that the 8-week course improved their physical health and emotional health, and beyond that, was a catalyst for intercultural awareness.^9,10 Our findings suggest that Bharatanatyam can serve as an available mind-body practice for well-being, with a potential reach to others beyond the Southeast Asian community. Increasing rates of immigration from India to the US coupled with possible changes and/or loss of cultural identity due to this movement has caused an influx of Bharatanatyam practitioners, predominately Southeast Asian women, abroad and in the US. Many participants fell within this demographic, sharing that a loss of Indian cultural identity due to their immigration to the US had mental health repercussions and caused a sense of disconnect. Participants shared that Bharatanatyam appears uniquely poised to ease this disconnect, restore cultural identity and learnings, and rebalance sense of identity. Given this available data and Bharatanatyam’s rich cultural narrative, we can see how best to expand Bharatanatyam’s ability to enhance emotional and physical wellness starting within the Southeast Asian demographic and an eventual expansion in outreach beyond this demographic.

While this study provides meaningful accounts of the lived experiences of seasoned Bharatanatyam dancers and the potential role of the artform in enhancing mind-body health, limitations must be acknowledged. The sample size of fifteen participants, while apt for this qualitative methodology, limits any generalizability of these findings. The lived experiences shared during in-depth interviews represent deeply personal, subjective experiences and cannot be assumed to reflect the broader population of dancers or those engaged in movement-based therapies. The sample was composed of Southeast Asian women which limits our understanding of how Bharatanatyam may influence other groups such as male or non-Southeast Asian dancers.

Bharatanatyam’s elements of physical movements, rhythmic breathing, storytelling, and spiritual connection, has potential to support psychological well-being, identity formation, and emotional regulation much like other recognized integrative health interventions such as yoga and DMT.^14,15

While the foundations of this current study utilized inductive, qualitative methods, future applications of a positivist, quantitative design framework may help us to better place these results into context. For example, future studies may try to include use of validated outcomes and measures to explore the relationship between concepts highlighted in this study, such as increased sense of identity, spiritual wellbeing, positive affect, and self-esteem much like those used in the pre-existing work on expressive arts and mind-body medicine.^2,16 Future Bharatanatyam-based interventions would benefit from using randomized controlled designs, include participants from both the US and India to examine possible intercontinental differences, and ensure sample sizes are sufficiently large and diverse in order to be generalizable. These randomized controlled trials with validated measures can aid in the exploration of specific Bharatanatyam movements in clinical practice such as adjunct care to standard stroke rehabilitation treatment or even Abhinaya as a form of self-expression and catharsis by harnessing the artform’s emotive potential. ¹⁷

Conclusions

This study provides evidence of Bharatanatyam playing a role in an experienced dancer’s overall well-being through means of connection (emotional, spiritual, cultural), and betterment of physical health. The art form provides a sense of community and catalyzes personal growth, providing Bharatanatyam the opportunity to expand its role as an art to a wellness practice.^18-23

Appendix.

Glossary

Arangetram

A dancer’s premiere, solo dance debut often performed with live musical accompaniment

Abhinaya

Expressional dance by utilizing motion, hand gestures, and emotional facial expression to story tell

Carnatic Music

A classical, often devotional, form of music originating from Southern India with emphasis on complex melodic and rhythmic sequences

Devadasi

Female artists dedicated to service of the temples in Southern India

Nattuvanar

Predominantly a man who accompanied the early Devadasi as a Guru, percussionist, and vocalist

Nritta

Technical, abstract dance movements with an emphasis on rhythmic patterns.

ORCID iDs

Varsha Ganesh https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6730-7175

David Victorson https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3530-8633

Ethical Approval

This study was approved by the Internal Review Board at Northwestern University (#STU00219416).

Data Availability Statement

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.*