Dynamism and creativity of an immaterial heritage: the oral transmission in Bharata-Natyam Dance Theater (Mysore, India)

Abstract: Researchers interested in the heritage of dance-theater in India face a major obstacle: oral transmission, as written and audiovisual archives are extremely rare. They need professional training to access research materials and to interpret it. The case study of the Mysore Bharata-Natyam style involves this kind of participatory observations by the researcher-artist and demonstrates how the vitality of this heritage depends on the creativity of each local and individual transmission - related to its social, aesthetic, religious and political context - therefore, not on works considered complete and recognized by a national or international public.