Bharatanatyam is an expressive dance form which places equal emphasis on movement and mime. Its deep seated araimandi (half-seated position) and its geometric adavus, make it an exquisite form to behold. As an arresting dance form practiced in temples and courts before it became popular and democratised, it used to be known as Sadir or Dasiattam in its earlier avatar.

The most popular discipline in teaching and performing in SIFAS remains Bharatanatyam.
​
PAST BHARATANATYAM TUTORS​
​SIFAS has had several Bharatanatyam teachers in the period under consideration, some of whom taught for extended periods of time. Gurus Maalika Girish Panicker, Balagurunathan and Minal Merai taught for about ten years or more during the 2000s.  Guru Sitaravamma left in 2002, paving the way for a number of new teachers.  Gurus Shilpa Chandran, Sunita Nair, Saroopa Das and Swarna were other notable Bhatatanatyam teachers who served in the mid to late 2000s. Gurus Shyamjith Kiran, Sanjit Lal, Sakitha and Gayathri taught from 2010 until 2015. The other teachers who taught during this period were Gurus Maya Kurup and Ramya Krishnan.
 
CURRENT BHARATANATYAM TUTORS​
​​Guru Nishanthie Jegannathan
Guru P K Geethanandan
Guru Sreeliji Sreedharan
Guru K Shalini Gokul
Guru P N Vikas