1. a classical dance form of southern India:"refinement is the essence of Bharatanatyam"
Word Originfrom Sanskrit bharatanāṭya, literally ‘the dance of Bharata’, from Bharata, reputed to be the author of the Nāṭyaśāstra, a manual of dramatic art.
Bharatanatyam is an Indian classical dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu, India. It is a classical dance form recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas of Hinduism and Jainism. Wikipedia