Gesture is subtly sharp
Like other Indian arts, the dance is very visible. It displays a high graphic content and has to please, to strike the eye. Every detail is important, up to the tip of each finger and toe, even the nail. The faintest eyelid attitude and movement is an element of the dance.
The dancer is aware of every segment of his body and masters the way they behave and move. Each gesture and each limb position is explicit and intended. None is the result of chance. Gravity is not something the dancer tries to escape. The body is firmly and happily grounded, the feet are in solid contact with the floor. Pelvis, trunk, limbs and head have well-defined axes. Shoulders are typically lowered in their basic position, elbows being on a slightly higher level when arms are raised.
The entire body is moved and enlivened by a rhythm that “cuts it up” into sections, each having a life of its own. Each part of the body is controlled independently. But all segments of the body are united in the dance's rhythm. Also, for gestures to coincide accurately with particular beats of the rhythm, their speed and timing are important.
Gestures are sharp, clear-cut and identifiable one by one, but the dance as a whole is fluid. The gestures follow each other in a fluidity that seems spontaneous. It is somewhat like break dance or a robot's gestures. One difference is that a robot's dance is lifeless and repetitive.
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