Bharatanatyam (Tamil: பரத நாட்டியம்) is a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. The dance is usually accompanied by classical Carnatic music. It dates back to 1000 B.C. Its inspirations come from the sculptures of the ancient temple of Chidambaram. It was codified and documented as a performing art in the 19th century by four brothers known as the Tanjore Quartet whose musical compositions for dance form the bulk of the Bharata Natya repertoire even today.

Most schools recognize 108 principal adavus, while some styles include over 150. Few professional dancers use more than 60. A combination of adavus is called jathi, which make up the Nritta passages in a Bharatanatyam performance. Unlike the margi Nritta composed of the Karanas, the adavus do not convey any rasa.

The main adavus are:

Bharata Natyam technique includes many other elements, such as elaborate neck and eye movements.

While Natya Shastra contains the largest number of the movements, and the most detailed descriptions, Abhinaya Darpanam, for instance, has defined only nine head movements, four neck movement and eight eye movements (compared with 36 of Natya Shastra) which are used extensively throughout the dance.

Lakshmi Gopalaswamy is a South Indian film actress and a classical dancer, qualified in Bharatanatyam. She has acted in several Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada films. Her debut Malayalam film Arayannangalude Veedu alongside Mammootty won her the Kerala State Film Award for the best supporting actress. She was a judge on Asianet’s dance show Vodafone Thakadhimi.

In 2007, Laxmi again received the Kerala State Film Award for the second best actress for her performances in Thaniye directed by debutant film director Babu Thiruvalla and Paradesi directed by P. T. Kunju Mohammed. For the same films, she also received the "Atlas Film Critics Award" for the best woman actor.

Lakshmi's most recent release has been the Kannada blockbuster Aptharakshaka. Her splendid performance in the film as a dancer possessed by an evil spirit has been praised by critics and the film going public as well.

She acted in the Tamil serial titled Lakshmi and has won much praise.

The acceptance in Malayalam cinema that Lakshmi has received from the audience has made her feel much obliged to Malayalam filmgoers. Her success has also got her offers from her home ground, Kannada film industry, too. Her debut Malayalam film Arayannangalude Veedu got her the Kerala State Award for the best supporting actress. Her second film Kochu Kochu Santhosangal too brought in much acclaim for her acting. Acting afforded her a different kind of exposure. "Initially I was intimidated by the profession, I was too shy to be famous," but soon felt at home.^{[citation needed]}

Brijmohan Mishra popularly known as Pandit Birju Maharaj (born February 4, 1938) is currently the leading exponent of the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Kathak dance in India. He is a descendant of the legendary Maharaj family of Kathak dancers, including his two uncles, Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, and his father and guru, Acchan Maharaj. Even though dancing is his first love, he also has an excellent command over Hindustani classical music and is an accomplished vocalist as well. He took Kathak to new heights by choreographing new Kathak dance dramas.He is also the founder of kalashram. He has toured extensively across the globe, given thousands of performances and held hundreds of workshops for kathak students.

After working along with his uncle, Shambhu Maharaj at Bhartiya Kala Kendra, later the Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, he remained head of the latter, for several years, till his retirement in 1998 when he opened his own dance school, Kalashram, also in Delhi.

Birju Maharaj was born in the house of noted Kathak exponent, Jagannath Maharaj, popularly known as Acchan Maharaj of Lucknow Gharana, who served as court dancer in Raigarh princely state. Birju was trained by his uncles, Lachhu Maharaj and Shambhu Maharaj and his father, and he gave his first recital at the age of seven. On 20 May 1947, his father died when he was nine . After a few years of struggle, his family moved to Delhi.

Manju Warrier (born 1 November 1978) is an Indian film actress. She was among the popular lead actress in Malayalam cinema during the mid to late-1990s. Warrier made her debut in Saakshyam (1995). Her well known films include Sallapam, Ee Puzhayum Kadannu (1996), Thooval Kottaram (1996), Kaliyattam (1997), Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997), Daya (1998), Summer in Bethlehem (1998), and Pathram (1999). She won the National Film Award - Special Jury Award for her performance in Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu (1999). She got married to actor Dileep in 1998, and has quit acting since then.

Even when she was at school, Manju showed extra ordinary talent in dance, and won many awards. She was conferred Kalathilakam in Kerala Youth Festival for 2 years.

At the age of 17, she debut in the film Sakshyam (1995). Later at the age of 18, she acted in the movie Sallapam (1996), co-starring actor Dileep, which became a big hit. Since then, she acted in around 20 Malayalam movies over a span of three years, most of which have been hits. She has won numerous awards and critical acclaim and was considered to be the top heroine of her period. She is still one of the most loved actresses in Malayalam. She has not acted in any other languages in her career.

Leela Samson (born 1951) is a Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, instructor and writer. As a soloist she is known for her technical virtuosity and has taught Bharatanatyam at Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra in Delhi for many years; presently she is the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (1 April 2011); director of Kalakshetra (April 2005); and chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi (2010– ).

Among the many honours conferred on her, Samson was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri by the President of India in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the art of Bharata Natyam as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Bharatanatyam (1999–2000), given by Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Leela was born in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. She is the daughter of Vice-Admiral (Ret) Benjamin Abraham Samson, from the Jewish Bene-Israelite community of India, and Laila, a Roman Catholic Indian . After doing her B.A., she learnt Bharatanatyam at the Kalakshetra under the founder Rukmini Devi Arundale.