Bharatanatyam
ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION PLATFORM
Offers a streaming, on demand training program for Bharatanatyam. The program offers strength and conditioning, dance technique and repertoire. It will help the student progress in Bharatanatyam. They will see visible changes in their dancing. Their stamina, physical alignment, strength, and understanding of theory in Bharatanatyam will grow if they are disciplined in following the program. They will also gain depth and understanding in the material and structure of Bharatanatyam choreography. There will be videos published every month to ensure the progress of the serious student.
ADULT BHARATANATYAM CLASSES
The Adult Bharatanatyam classes are currently taught through a combination of live online classes and self-study. Aimed at the Intermediate-Advanced student, the classes will interact with Chaitanya on an ongoing basis, imparting ideas of movement, safe training methods, Abhinaya, Theory, Natyashastra, amongst other aspects of Bharatanatyam. The classes will analyse movement patterns in Adavus while also working on Repertoire.
The class will attempt to help the dancer become aware of muscular alignment, to prevent injury and increase efficiency of movement, enable clarity of movement, find layering in Abhinaya, and discover creative motivation for dance. These classes are largely for serious and committed adults and aspiring professionals (Children above 13 yrs are also eligible to apply).
The classes require a minimum commitment of 4 months. Though it is an ongoing course, varied concepts will be dealt with every 4 months. (It is recommended to also do the online streaming program of The Natyashastra Method alongside, but is not compulsory.)
Professional Training Programs [PTP]
This class is a product of many years of research in pedagogy and movement . Devised as a long term program, admission to this program is limited to a select number of students. Accepting children between the ages of 4-7 yrs, it trains them to become skilled Bharatanatyam dancers with a strong base in Bharatanatyam, Karanas, Tala and Natyashastra. The program expands their movement vocabulary making their bodies available to varied movement disciplines, while introducing the basics of ballet and different contemporary forms. The students are enabled to embody various movement dynamics as well as develop strength and flexibility, while developing a personal awareness of the functioning of their bodies. Children develop their creative abilities alongside skill and technique.
Though admissions for this course are now closed, if your child is exceptionally inclined to dance, you can audition him/her for the program, by writing to us.
Classes
The choreography certificate is offered to intermediate-advanced practitioners of Bharatanatyam who want to learn to create in the form. The months of creative investigation is primarily for aspiring professionals, teachers and dancers to prepare them to understand the nuances within the Bharatanatyam vocabulary. The students will learn the basics of creative research and application from the Natyashastra Method, and understand the depth of possibilities within the Bharatanatyam Vocabulary
Why is this course unique?
Offered largely online, the student can manage their time and structure the self-practise without disruption to their schedule. The structure and content is however so comprehensive, that the student will be able to work on every aspect of their creative practice with the detailed instructions. It is the only existing choreography course that specifically addresses the vocabulary of Bharatanatyam. The Natyashastra method lays stress on analysis, research and cultivating individual creative abilities. The course will offer new perspectives of analysing and understanding the movement vocabulary of Bharatanatyam, while developing a keener understanding of traditional choreographic systems.
Course Outcomes
The Universe Through A Child’s Eyes
The course will make the students understand the traditional concepts in the practice and choreography of Bharatanatyam, while developing creative abilities. The students will begin to understand the motivation and intention of Bharatanatyam as a performing arts medium, while developing an inquisitive attitude toward the practise of Bharatanatyam. The course will help the students develop the necessary skills to choreograph within the traditional repertoire and also use the vocabulary to find creative freedom Through the 8 months, the course will enable students to:
- Understand the basics of injury prevention and allow mindful practise.
- Understand the implications of a neutral mind and body, in the context of choreography.
- Understand the ideas of direction, dynamics, posture and gesture in dance and their implications in choreography
- Assimilate the nuances of rhythm, according to the Carnatic music tradition, and develop abilities to decipher rhythmic complexities in basic Korwes and Jathis.
- Begin to find the ability to use the position of bodies within a space in emotive contexts.
- Develop abilities to ideate and create a dance production.
- Know the practical applications of the concepts of Abhinaya, Bhava and Rasa.
- Understand the structure of the traditional repertoire
- Develop an inquisitive thought process that will serve in utilising the Bharatanatyam vocabulary to explore contemporary subjects
- Develop analytical abilities, such that they can discern the motivation for creating
- Grow creatively, by fostering curiosity in the layering and nuance of Bharatanatyam.
- Find a renewed relationship to Bharatanatyam that allows a contemporary, personal relevance to the form through a deeper understanding of the tradition and technique.
- Apply ideas of movement, and human interaction from their daily lives into performance to become more effective communicators.
