Speaking to students about the origin of this dance form, Rama Vaidyanathan said that Bharatnatyam began some 2,000 years ago as dancing tribute to the Gods.

As Rama Vaidyanathan explained the intricacies of the mudras and the feet movement, students sat rapt in attention in the jam-packed auditorium. The performance of the day began with a welcome dance. And with Mayur mudra, a style very similar to a peacock’s dance, Rama helped the students understand and appreciate the national bird’s beauty.

She went on to perform dances based on various emotions. She showed the young students what Shingaar Ras is, with a romantic dance in which she demonstrated romantic moments between Krishna and Radha.

The next item based on Karuna illustrated compassion in human minds. The whole hall echoed with applause as she finished the dance, depicting scenes from the life of child Krishna, playing and teasing with his mother. With her illustration of Adbhut Ras, she took the audience along in admiring the natural beauty of flowers, trees, rivers, mountains and many more things that human eyes miss while leading a fast life.