For Adults, Manhattan

Tuesdays at
 Chelsea Studios, 26th St between 6th and 7th Avenue, 5th floor 

offered by the Anamika-Navatman Project

Beginner - 8PM - 9PM Students learn the hand gestures (mudras) and dance steps (adavus) of Kalakshetra-style Bharatanatyam. Classes focus on developing balance and alignment in araimandi and natyarambhe positions. Students will explore adavu groups, and learn helpful Yoga postures. Students also learn hand gestures through chanting, as well as basic rhythmic skills. Sessions culminate in learning short dance sequences (jathis). 

 Intermediate - 7PM - 8PM This class focuses on learning items from the Bharatanatyam margham, or solo performance repertoire. This includes items such as Pushpanjali, Alarippu, and Jathiswaram. Students will focus on developing rhythmic and musical skills that can be applied to the item they are learning. Theory section will include the usages of hand gestures (viniyogas). Students must know the fundamentals of Kalakshetra-style Bharatanatyam, including adavus and single and double hand gestures, to take this class.

For Children

Jackson Heights, Tuesdays @ 5-6pm at Mimi for Me Yoga Studio

Long Island, Saturdays between 2-5pm at Herricks Middle School

Offered by the Young Indian Culture Group  

Students learn the hand gestures (mudras) and dance steps (adavus) of Kalakshetra-style Bharatanatyam. Classes focus on developing balance and alignment in araimandi and natyarambhe positions. Students will explore adavu groups, and learn helpful Yoga postures. Students will also learn hand gestures through chanting, as well as basic rhythmic skills. Sessions will culminate in learning short dance sequences.

Courses at SUNY Stony Brook, Department of Asian and Asian American Studies

AAS 212 Performing Arts in India

Classical Indian dance and theatre are highly evolved forms of story-telling. Thus, students begin their study of performing arts with a survey of the Indian myths that form the substance of these art forms. Students also study portions of the Natya Shastra, the ancient Indian text on theatre, and the theory of rasa that informs all classical Indian art forms. With these tools, the students will begin an in-depth study of Bharatanatyam, the solo dance form from Tamil Nadu, which will be followed by a comparative study of Indian classical dance forms such as Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri and Kathakali. The ancient and modern history, aesthetics, technique and practitioners of each style will be covered through lectures, readings, live demonstrations and videos. Students will be required to attend a live performance. NOTE: This is a survey course and students are not required to perform dance

AAS 209 Indian Classical Dance: Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form from southern India, and is considered the oldest of the solo dance forms. It has two aspects: nrtta, or pure dance, and abhinaya, or mime. This dance class aims to give the student a firm basis in Bharatanatyam technique, theory and history. Students will learn adavus, or basic steps, and mudras, or hand gestures. They will also study the theory and practice of story-telling including the mythological characters portrayed and the nine rasas or flavors. Students engage in creative projects including choreographing a dance step, a poem, and a group piece. This course culminates in a group dance performance. NOTE: This is a practical dance course; students should be in good physical health. Previous dance or Yoga experience is a plus.