Ever since the beginning of the sangam age, this ancient dance form Bharatanatyam has been called under various names like Koothu, Natiyam, Aattam, Aadal and the dance was traditionally performed by devaradiyaars who were also called by various names during various periods of time. Koothar, viraliyarkodiyar, pravaiyar, iraiyadiyaargal were some of the common terms in which these artists were referred to. The dancers and artists were highly regarded and the dances had special branding as traditional sacred dances. 

A lot of traditional sculptures and paintings can be seen even today as evidences in various sacred places of worship and has a long history with many ups and downs along the stretch. This traditional dance art, which focuses on the lives of the people, was transformed into a religious art and it has not lost its historical continuity. 

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This traditional dance form, which was admired by the kings, has been largely cultivated by the Devaradiyars as long as they were in their hands. They did not get married for the sake of art and practiced the art thereby served the Lord. 

Over time, political and social changes have caused moral turmoil among dancers and performances at the shrines started to shift from the temple courtyards to outer halls and as it started to gain more focus among common stages, it gradually began to lose its traditional nuances which were sacredly cultivated and cherished by the devaradiyaars.

By the time commoners started to practise, Bharatanatyam as a result of modernisation started embedding itself to the process of change. All art forms does go thought the changes in time as they evolve and if it doesn’t it means that it is not developing and not rich enough to adapt to changes over time.  In today’s era if an art is not competent enough to deal with innovations it will be forgotten and will be be branded as old fashioned which leads to extinction.  

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Bharatanatyam’s richness has always had the tendency to adapt to various colourful techniques and practises. It injected innovations to itself with variety and trend. Innumerable number of artists inherited different styles by designing mythological legends Indian epics and novels through dance dramas. Literatures and poems started to shape up as concepts and social messages, public issues  are also addressed through expression!