Namskaram !
My name is Anjali Nandan and ‘am currently in Plano,TX, USA. I have been learning Bharatanatyam from the age of 6. The learning has mostly been in Mumbai from late Smt. Madhuri Kelkar. I am a “Nritya Visharad” in Bharatnatyam from Bharatiya Sangeet Samiti.
I have got the good fortune to work along with Padmashri Smt. Hemamalini as part of various dance Ballets. It was a Divine experience working in her productions like “Mahalakshmi”, “Savitri” and “Geet-Govind”. She is a graceful and disciplined exponent of Bharatanatyam.
Apart from online lessons her school Natyam Academy in Plano, TX offers Bharatanatyam lessons to interested students in Dallas/Plano/ Frisco communities.
I am not any expert in the field having seen many greats in this art form. This Blog is a humble attempt to provide some information on the dance form as I have learnt it.
Thanks for your help and encouragement along the way!
Note (Updated Sep 21, 2009): Thanks for all the comments, suggestions and encouragement. I truly appreciate each of that. To enable a better format for our discussion, I have added forums to the website. Request you to discuss your questions and ideas there.
Ritika, I follow the Pandanalur Style. The basics remaining the same, there are slight differences in movements. check the learning CD’s by jayalakshmi eshwar.
Thank you so much for your wonderful website!!!! It is very helpful!!
you are providing me a chance to know abt the dance form i always wanted to learn. i am learning through your videos, i would like to post them to you as a video for your guidance.
guru namaskar to you
madam,
i liked ur site very much. i wanted to know what is the right age for learning bharatnatyam(, though u have mentioned that the right age is 5 years) since my daughter has turned 4 1/2 years this july and she is very slim and short. So I wanted to confirm whether 6 years will be suitable for learning bharatnatyam?/
Hi Anjali ,
I am Gowri, i learned nattu adavu and tatta adavu when i was a student, but i couldn’t continue.Now am 24yr old and keen in learning Bharatanatyami Is it ok to start learning Bharatanatyam in this age? i have already downloaded most of your videos in you tube.Do you recommend any advice as am beginner.(possibe mail me @ )Thanks
Regards
Gowri ..
@Sudha, yes 6 years would be good to start. Actually there are no rules when your child can start learn. All depends on your child’s interest and focus.
Hi Anjali,
Thank you so much your online lessons.These days when art is becoming commercial I appreciate your efforts for making it reach to people who cannot afford it..I learnt Bharatanatyam for 5 years and but have no much grip on talam.as a result I’am not able to compose any dance songs.Abhinaya part is easy for me but the beats is tough to compose.I would like to learn nattuvangam part in bharatanatyam. Could you please upload some of your videos about it..
please i want to know where i can get bharatanatyam basic learning DVD’s.
i want to buy. i am very much intresed in bharatanayam………..
plz let me know.
thanks a lot for such a nice site. i am learning steps…
Hi Anjali,
I liked the basic info you provided,it helps all the poeple to learn bharathanatyam,I am bharathanatyam dance teacher,one of my student is doing arengatram,this is my first arengetram with that student,so can u give me some information about Natuvangam,how can i practise the natuvangam?waiting for your reply….
hi
u r giving a lot informations. i dont know anything in this field.
my daughter is now 4 and half yrs old. may i know a guru in
chennai like u?
Hi Mam,
It is a pleasure to see this website. My daughter who is 7 yrs is going to start classes (Kalakshetra style) here in Gurgaon.
Do you recommend any good DVDs or online videos uploaded by you for beginners?
thank you for all the hard work you have put in to making this website so informative and helpful! i had a question – isnt there one more adavu where the hands start in shikhara mudra and the bols are ta tai tam dhi tai tam ? i cannot find it on your website so i was wondering about it….thanks
@swathi, Books on Nattuvangam like ‘Essence of nattuvangam ‘ by kamala Rani, a CD on nattuvangam by Seetharama Sharama should help to understand the basics. But adavanced concepts you must either approach a mridangist or a teacher who can teach nattuvangam. Good luck!!
@Tulsi, Apart from mandi , it is the murka/sutral adavu. http://onlinebharatanatyam.com/2009/05/sutral-adavu-in-bharatanatyam/
Dear Anjali Madam,
Your effort is appreciable & remarkable. am having doubts regrding certain Mudras to show Caste, Divine, Curse & punya. If you could please help me to clear the above…
Hello Anjali, I would like to know if you teach one-one classes in NewJersey?
yes I do Sindhura.
spectacular
Hi Anjali~
With your help, i have started to learn this dance on youtube. Thank you very much!
I wanted to know that for the beginning of first year, where should I start and through the years of 1,2,3,and 4?
Regards
Shefali
i had mailed you and wanted to join your on line classes, i am from a small town and there are no teachers for bharat natyam there i need your help.
I loved finding the mudra shlokas on your website – thank you for providing this information!
Hai Aka Anjali,
I,m from Malaysia, I realy enjoy surfing your web page.
I love bharathanatyam since young age, I learn bharatham
from movies and bharatham cd’s, due to the financial problem I face. But after looking at your web page, now I can learn from my Guru Anjali.All the spiritual movemant and the lesson realy helpful for me,
I would to suggest for more videos of you dancing Bharathanatyam.
Thanks Aka, For your help…..
hi,
i hv a daughter, her age is 12 mth nw, i want her 2 learn bharatnatyam. so can u tell me wt is the age, can i start her classes.
hi, What,s up chechi?
All fine sis.
@dimple, 5 yrs would be good to start.
Dear Guru Anjali, first of all I would like to thank you for posting such a beautiful website with useful information. I’ve been learning the art form Bharatanatyam since last year. I went exclusively to Mumbai and learned for 3 months in a very intensive course. Due to some lack of time I dont have to practice at home and therefore I decided to do Ballet class in order to be more flexible and be able to sit in ‘araimandi’. I really like your website. Would love to be in touch with you and ask for your help in case I am in doubts. – I wanted to ask you whether you have or you could send me a suggestion where I could find Alarippu song. I had a recording given by my ‘Guru’, unfortunately got somehow destroyed and she hasnt been able to send it to me. Further the second part of your video where you explain Alarippu part 2 isnt available in my country… How can I watch it???? I want to apologize for posting so many lines in one go… and the same time many questions – I just love Bharatanatyam. Thank you in advance for your kind support. Warm regards from Germany, Lydia
Thanks lydia. Appreciate your interest for the art form. I have no idea why the second video should not play. Check out in some public libraries where internet is available. Will check on my side too.
Dear Anjali, thank you for such a prompt answer. I have checked in some different places. I think it is a sort of youtube policy… Is it possible for you to send me a recording of the Alarippu song (jathis, etc… for instance.. ta tey teyum ta ta dita…)… it shouldnt be that sophisticated recording I just need it for practicing. Hope this is not much to ask from my side. Just let me know if is possible for you or not. I have checked online but it’s just not the style of Alarippu I learnt. (I can defenitely manage to dance with any other talam, etc… or style.. but your style is exactly the same I learnt – Tanjavur style). Thank you in advance for your support. Wishing you a nice day.
DANYAWAAD Guru Jii… Warm regards from Germany, Lydia
Hi,
Can anyone please share the address or contact number of kalamandalam sreejaya’s dance institute in Bangalore. Please drop me a mail ([email protected]) the possible details. My daughter is around 10 years and was learning Bharatanatyam for last 3 years.
Regards
Ananta
Hi Anjali
this page of yours is really inspiring and helpful.
I have a questions to all of you
pls can some write me the sollkattu of this varnam?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOAXjHoiwGA&translated=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_h7BGD9M7M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNzQgBW1FuM&translated=1
I am learning bharathanatyam and I am very interested in to get to know the sollkattu of this great varnam!!!!!
If anybody wants to help me then pls mail me
[email protected]
Thanks a lot!!!!!!
Hi Anjali,
I liked the organization of your website. Simple and yet resourceful.
I am 30 yrs old. I have learnt Bharatanatyam when i was a child. I didnt get to pursue it for a long time, but i renewed my passion and interest once i was grown up ie after my 20’s… I am currently preparing for my arangetram with my guru. I am a mother to a 3 yr old now and age/lifestyle is taking a toll on my feet on account of my regular practise from adavus and other stamina building exercises. My feet grew really tired and weak, had severe foot/ankle pain for 2 weeks and i am under medication. The doctors have asked me to take it slow.
I want to know how long it would take to build up stamina for a performance like “arangetram”. Since i have other responsibilites with my family, i do not want to take too long a time either. I have seen most people take 6 months to 1 year(people who have quite a solid background) for this.
Thanks!
Aruna.
Aruna, I am not sure what is your pain due to. But recently me and some of my friends who have learnt natyam long time back, got together for a performance. After the first day of practice one of my friend felt immense pain around the ankle area. She was an active body during her teens and later got inactive after pregnancy and child birth. It was after three whole sedentary years one fine day she started the practice. She is now being treated for ligament and meniscus tear. What I learnt is, before anybody wants to get into a dance schedule they must first atleast for a week or two start with exercises like walking or cycling. These basic activities will prepare you for vigorous dance sessions. Experienced teacher’s say that you must start your practice with adequate warm up and cool down exercise after practice. I would say you could target your arangetram 1 or two year down the line and perform the same piece that you learnt for the arangetram. That way you can take it easy and you have a long time to assimilate and practice.
Great work anjali , nice encouraging work ..
you are beautiful .
Hi Anjali,
My daughter just started going to the classical dance and I wanted to make her practice at home aswell..then I came across your website..it is really good and very very baby spoon feeding for the beginers. Thank you so much for posting the classical dance online, it definetly helps people like us.
Regds
Suma
i just loved your blog! too good
Thank you Anupama.
Hi Anjali,
Great to see you blog. Iam really loving it.
I have also been a trained dancer in Bharatnatyam and more of Kuchipudi.
I have learnt for 9 years and have done Visharad in Bharatnatyam.
I have started taking classes here in Banglore.
But I want to join you so that I don’t leave my practice and passion for dance.
Please let me know about your suggestions.
Thanks & Regards,
pallavi
We loe you Anjali. Thanks for making it available to everyone through this format.
Panna
Anjali Nandan,
I would love to hear from you about the basics, I too began learning BharathNatyam recently, I learnt it when I was a child too, but I stopped for almost 15 years and now learning again. I live in HErndon VA. I want to Hastha mudras and Early Adavus (Steps) from you in addition to the dance school I attend.
Thank you,
Vijaya.
This is the best site I have found on BN. Very descriptive and easy illustrations. Gee haa, to me you are an expert! I am training to teach a fusion aerobic class that uses mudras for ailments of repetitive strain injuries. I just married into the Indian culture this year and absolutely love the different forms of Indian dance, esp. Bhangra. I’ll be going to Mumbai next month for the final few days of the Dance Festival and hope to be able to participate as well as immerse myself in dance. Do you have any suggestions for an English speaking studio to take a random walk-in? Keep up your hard work, this website is wonderful.
Kim
hi anjali
its,s a nice website where we can clear our doubts baout bharatnatyam dance,i hav eno knowledge of dance but my daughter started learning dance1 year back . as there are so many opinions about different teachers,i want to know how iam suppose to judge the teacher wether she is making my kid do enough practice what hse needs for this dance. it would be really good if u can throw some light on this .
thankyou
hi,
i m arpita das
and am 19 yrs old.
i have joined a bharatnatyam class now and hv been simultaneously learning from your videos as well.
i just had a question in my miind that,
is it possible for me to start learning bharatnatyam at this age
and still be able to learn it as quickly and gracefully as kids do?
Hey Anjali,
Have you updated the website for the Colum to post add for dance class?
I wanted to learn item – ashta nayika – have you uploaded / or any plans to upload anything on that?
Can you tell me any vcd to learn that item – Kalakshetra style
@Arpita, Yes you could and enjoy the learning. Remove the time limits from your mind.
@Kim. Wishing you all the best. I would say just give your best shot, enjoy the process and leave the rest.
@Vijaya, I shall mail you with the details.
Hi Anjali
This is Neha- I learnt barathanatiyam when I was very young and then I had to discontinue. I have performed a variety of dances right from kutthu to belly dancing, but I’ve always regretted not learning classical. I don’t really have the time to go for classes because I have a lot of studying to do, Your site has given me the confidence that I can finally learn bharathanatiyam. Thanx a million 🙂
Hi Anjali Nandan,
Thanks for such a wonderfull site which you have come up. i stay in a small city in austria. my daughter is going to be 3 years now and i was looking for some bhartanatyam classes in the city.. as there is no indian community here. i dont find any dance school here. but i am lucky that i found it online. so first i am going to learn it and then teach her. one question is that can i teach my daughter at this age of hers? you are really doing a great job. once again thank you very very much.