Volume VI Special Issue II February 2026

Name of Author : Dr. S. Sarala

Title of the paper : Bharatanatyam as Sacred Dance and Emotional Healing: A Performative Art

Abstract: The Performative arts like classical dance, music, and ritual theatre appear in English language modern Indian writing not just as artistic endeavours but also as potent means of psychological equilibrium and emotional healing. These creative forms serve as therapeutic spaces where people explore identity, trauma, memory, and spiritual longing. They have their roots in holy traditions and communal rituals. This essay looks at how Indian authors emphasize the use of performing arts as emotional healing techniques that balance the body, mind, and spirit. The study examines how Bharatanatyam serves as Sadhana a disciplined spiritual practice rather than performance for spectacle based mostly on Mahesh Dattanis Dance Like a Man. Bharatanatyam has a relaxing and elevating effect that fosters spiritual awareness and emotional well being when placed within its original temple environment, evoking Bhakti and Shanta rasa. The essay goes on to say that temple based performances at holy events, such as festivals, consecrations, and rites, foster a communal devotional environment where viewers feel calm, clear headedness, and spiritual resonance. By emphasizing Bharatanatyam as a religious act, current Indian writing in English highlights the emotional restorative potential of classical dance and emphasizes its on going significance in a contemporary world looking for spiritual stability and mental tranquillity.

Keywords : Performative Arts, Sacred Dance, Emotional Healing, Bhakti Rasa, Spiritual Experience.

DOI :

Page Number : 8-11