A Bharatanatyam arangetram/rangapravesha is a significant and traditional milestone in the life of a Bharatanatyam dancer that celebrates a dancer’s dedication, talent and years of training. The term "arangetram" comes from the Tamil language and “rangapravesha” comes from the Kannada/Telugu language which translates to "ascending the stage" or "debut on stage." The arangetram is seen as a rite of passage for a Bharatanatyam dancer. It signifies the dancer's readiness to perform professionally and is a proud moment for both the dancer and their guru (teacher).
 

The arangetram is the result of several years of dedicated training in Bharatanatyam. It involves mastering intricate footwork(angha shudhi), hand gestures (mudras), facial expressions (abhinaya), and complex choreography. During the arangetram, the dancer performs a full-length well-rounded solo repertoire/margam that includes traditional pieces, such as the Alaripu, Jatiswaram, Shabdam, Varnam, Padam and Tillana. This performance showcases the dancer's proficiency in various aspects of Bharatanatyam, including both pure dance (nritta) and expressive storytelling (nritya). Accompanying the dancer is a live orchestra, which consists of carnatic musicians playing traditional South Indian instruments like the mridangam (drum), violin, flute, vocalists who sing the lyrics and the nattuvanar who provide rhythmic and melodic support.