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.
very nice to know you and your beautifull site!!! I´m Laura from Argentina and I Teach Bharatanatyam here and the information on your site is always very good reference material!! Thanks!!!
hello,anjali
i am a boy of age 16,keen to learn bharathanatyam .i asked my mom for to join classes.but she said nobody from our family learn so u also should not learn,she also said this should be learnt buy girls only and not u.but the problem is she likes bharathanatyam and once when she asked my sister she told ,she wasnt interested.i really do know why she dont want me to learn .i asked her 3 times.even my relatives tease and say are u a girl to learn bharathanatyam .so i need your help on how to convince her as i want to learn it
could u help me .how to convince my mom to learn
hello,
sorry to ask
but could u tell also a solution to this problem
Hi Anjali,
Your web site is a very useful and informative.I appreciate your work and keep going.Wish you good luck.
Ms. Nandan,
Its so kind of you to bring up such an innovative idea of spreading interest for classical dance styles.
I too have been a student of Late Mrs. Madhuri kelkar and I studied dance under her for nearly 10 years. However, now i have lost my touch into dancing but i always wish to complete my Arangetram, as this was one of my Madam’s wish. Hope I could complete, However, this effort is truly adorable and encouraging. Kelkar madam will surely be happy in heaven .
@Diana, glad to meet one more student of Madhuri teacher. I wish you good luck with your Arangetram. Thanks for your kind words.
Hi,Anjali .. I looked at some of your video’s on you tube and found them very nice . I’m 25 years old and started learning bharatnatyam now. It was my childhood dream to learn . On a daily basis how long do you think I should practice and how long will it take for me to get to a certain level. Do you think age matters?
Hello Anjali,
This is a wonderful website on Bharatnatyam, esp for people who live overseas to continue and rediscover our culture. By your teaching methods that I have found to be clear and explanatory, I am able to practice the basics giving more meaning to the dance which I had learnt long time ago when I was a child.
Keep continuing and hope to see more updates.
Hi Anjali,
I was reading through blogs, and came across this one, which actually gave me a ray of hope to start and pursue my long time dancing passion. The Hastas demonstrated are really fabulous. Just wanted your suggestion on whether i could learn dance through these online sessions, along with my job and family..I have always loved dance, but couldn’t go ahead with it for various reasons, now is it possible to reach my dreams… Your suggestion would be of great help
Hi Anjali,
I have already registered one to one classes with you I am just wandering what you mean by certification? Will you be giving us certificates?
Hi Anjali,
It’s really a wonderful and informative site and you are a very graceful performer.I started to study dance when I was three and half yrs old.I did not get the opportunity to study it continuously as I was brought up abroad .During my vacation when I visit Kerala,I used to meet my dance teacher and study an item for the stage performance.Now I am 30 yrs and wish to study an item for a small performance.Can you please assist me in this.
Anjali, gostei muito das informações. Trabalho com teatro no Brasil e gosto de estudar gestos. Obrigado pelas informações. Desejo continuar me comunicando com você. Se for possível, me mande uma resposta. Beijos..
hi aanjali
i was and am still inclined towards dance but presently doing a job and also my masters.so dont really get the time.it would be nice if u would like to explain me some more about the classical daance form bharatnatyam
i really liked the iidea that some online courses in classical dance.basically i know performing it ppratically would be difficult but then theory u could guide mebetter just for my knowledge.
Salutions to you lady on this100th International Women’s day.
Lucky guy our Nandan.
Keep smiling, sharing & writing……………..PMB
I love your dance and the way you teach bharathanatyam.. !!! Keep rocking and dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi,
Liked your web page.The dance step demonstrations are really good.Otherwise it is difficult to understand only by reading.
Regards,
Dr. Geeta
Hi Ma’am
I am very passionate about dance and had to give it up due to medical school. I had forgotten the order of adavus, and even when I would think I should practice once in a while Id be at a loss
Its wonderful to practice along with your videos, I feel like Im back in my dance class:-)
Could you post the hasta bhedas, the slokas tht start naatyarambhe vaarivaahe…I remember on pataka hasta bheda..would be lovely to brush on those too:-)
Thnks again..you hv no idea how much ur videos mean to me:-)
@Ashwathy, Glad you are able to practice. Thanks for the suggestions, will work on them soon.
hai,im basically working out on all traditional activities of Tamilnadu and how they are interrelated with human body.Bharathanatyam and our body functions and its metabolism are much related.can u please guide me with some information regading this.
Dear Mrs. Anjali hello , its a great thing that you have been learnig bhartnatyam .. I am a hardcore fan of bhartnatyam but only the thing is I have not learnt it ,… knowing the fact have one qurrey cum request , recently I have come across the ad of Karina Kapoor on TV , of airtel .. start .. stop .. in the begining of the ad their is some lyrics .. pankaj shankar please let me know the voice or form where the song has been picked up .. I want to know who has sung this song .. please let me kow .. thanks & best regards .. taramati natekar
Great Work!!!
I have also finished my Bharatnatyam Dance back in India several years back. It’s been a while since I danced; I’ve been following your website lately and trying to recall everything; do you have by any chance “Varnam” video clips please? I couldn’t find one. It would be great if you can send me the link when you have it or otherwise, thanks very much.
Regards,
Darshana
greetings to u maam…i stay in noida..had learnt bharatnatyam in lko az a school kid…..wanted to resume my training again…..can you please suggest any school from where i could learn bharatnatyam…..will eagerly wait for any response..:)
Hi Anjali,
I am a 28 year-old Tamil speaking Singaporean and very much into learning Bharatanatyam. I was forced into Bharatanatyam class in my childhood days while I was more interested to attend some Martial Arts classes (I was pretty much a tomboy growing up)…. I dropped out after few months and forgot about it (I didn’t get to learn Martial Arts as well).
Just few years ago, my teenage niece (distant relation actually) did a Arangetram in both India and Singapore and we were all very proud of her. It didn’t even occur to me then…. but about 3 years later, I happen to watch a Bharatanatyam video of young Harinie Jeevitha on youtube… Thats when it hit me…about how much of our tradition (especially Tamil tradition) I have missed out on. It felt like a deep hole in my chest. But I thought I was already too old to start learning Bharatanatyam….
To learn Natyam at 28? I would be laughed at by everyone….right?
Recently, I shared my feelings to a very close friend of mine (who has some Bharatanatyam Background in her late teens as well as childhood days)…. And she felt the same as me….
We then decided to find a Guru or join a school to learn this art and now we just started our first steps…. This time around I’m definitely gonna go all the way!!
I was comforted by the fact that the famous Kalashetra co-founder Rukmini Devi Arundale herself just picked up Bharatanatyam around the age of 29-30ish and she gave her first public performance just about 2 years after learning it…. and she reformed the ancient Devadasi style of dance called Sadhir to current day Bharatanatyam….
I’m not saying I’m gonna learn it in few short years… but its encouraging to know that such great legend started at around that late age considering the majority of current day beginners of Bharatanatyam.
Finally, your blog site is awesome! Since my friend have lot more experience in this dance form then me…. I was feeling guilty to slow down the entire sessions… Now with the help of your blog, I’m beginning to show much improvement and picking things up much faster rate. Thanx a lot and do kindly continue to share your knowledge about this great ancient Art.
P.S: Post more videos! (especially on all the Adavus)
@NDL, I have students learning in their 40’s, you are much younger . Please continue learning. I shall keep updating often. Thanks
@Aditi, please visit http://www.narthaki.com/bhnatyam/bhdivi.htm and find a institute around your place.
Hi Anjali,
I just happened to stumble upon this website and found it very interesting.
Could you please upload videos or atleast audios of the Hasta Viniyoga slokas?
i too love bharathanatiyum i am learning it from the age of 7 till now………indian classical dance is awesome
i saw your videos on youtube they are really nice
Hi Anjali,
May I know which Bharatanatyam school you are based from?
After reading about Bharatanatyam, I found out there are various different schools… namely, Pandanallur, Vazhuvoor, Kalakshetra and Thanjavoor…. Besides these is there any other forms of dance schools around still?
Whats the main difference from each of these schools…?
I know Vazhuvoor is less angular as compared with Kalakshetra or Pandanallur… and their Adavu steps are different, somewhat…..and some school still have the Sringara Rasa in their dance form…
If possible, do try to list and describe the various forms and the main differences of the all known existing Bharatanatya schools… I feel that its quite vital in order to bring about more awareness of this ancient classical dance.
The Shocking part is, almost all of the Bharatanatyam dancers I’ve across so far in person lack the knowledge about these different schools of thought…. I heard there are various stages in Bharatanatyam as a educational level… from Merit cert holders to those doing a Diploma, Degree and even a PHD… Does the folks who pusue all these get to study about all these various schools? Is there actually a written paper for Bharatanatyam?
I feel its important for a person to know what they are doing, (learning) besides just practicing and memorizing dance steps…
But still… you have pointed out and explained various steps and what they mean… Good job on that, and thank you for encouraging words… people just beginning to learn it in their 40s is boosting enough for a late beginner like me.
Hi Anjali,
I just came across your site while looking for Bharatanatyam classes in London. Not sure if there are any, so thinking of going to India for a year to do a course. I learnt dance as a kid and after a long gap in College, but the teacher never let me go furhter than the Adavus. So I quit. Now I am 31 and wish to learn so that I can also take classes in London. Do you this this is possible at this age? Also is your dance Mysore style? Your site is very very useful. Thank you for the lovely site.
@Cauvery, I follow the pandanallur style. Yes you could learn if you serious and committed. Glad you like the site. Thanks
@NDL, I follow Pandanallur style. Infact I really don’t care about the style one learns. Because it hardly matter’s when you get to the advanced levels. What matter’s is your Angashuddi and how precisely you can convey the message to the audience. I have read Dhananjayan sir’s article where he say’s that there are only two types of dances: good dance and a bad dance. Now as I am by myself and learning and working , I pick up everything that I like, irrespective of the styles. It would be wise to stay away from analyzing the styles and spend more time in learning from whatever source you are exposed to.
Hi Anjali!
This is a wonderful site you have maintained. I have started learning Bharatnatyam recently (at the age of 27 – I always wanted to do that – am finally doing it now!). And I refer to your site frequently for tips and to just learn more about the dance form.
I must say you have put in a great effort here! Its really remarkable! Thanks a lot for this wonderful site!
Regards,
Anupriya
This is absolutely wonderful. Thanks for your contribution. There are lot of us who can benefit from this. As much as I am happy that this art form is flourishing in the United States, I also feel sad to see people with minimum skills completing arangetram and contributing to the downfall of this wonderful art. I am going to make my daughter visit this site regularly…I will too. Keep up the good work! Thank you again.
hi mam, thank for this site mam.. i love barathanatyam soo much but, i don’t know barathanatyam… but much interested in classical dance… thank you mam ….
Dear Anjali
I’am 33 yrs old.now I started leanrning Bharatnataym.Since childhood very interested but could not get oppurtunity to learn.Now I got good guru.
My request is that please you send the VCD or DVD of your basic adavus steps.
Thanks.
Maya
this is not as good as my teachers website!!!! hahah and yes i do learn bharatanatyam i am on grade 2!!!!
can I learn for free? I am 40+
@Priti, you can always see the videos which are available for free. But to have someone correct you with steps, then you have to join the course which involves fee.
Hi Ms. Anjali,
Nice to see a site which can help more and more people get into this divine art.. I’ve a die hard passion for baratnatyam, but my story is too long.. Actually i learnt baratanatyam from the age of 7 or so. My father was in a transferrable job and so we had to pack up every two years.. though the style of the dance doesn matter, everywhere i went, i was told tat they style they follow was different and i was advised to start from thattadavu, even when i had completed it.. so the story goes, i’d always reach pushpanjali or alarippu and again, in the next place i’d start thattadavu.. At last by God’s grace, i came to chennai and got a great great opportunity to learn from Mrs. Meenakshi Chittaranjan. I learnt for three years with her, and was deciding to get with her in a Gurukulam Style so tat i can take my steps towards the prepartion of a typical proffessional dancer, BUT VERY VERY UNFORTUNATELY again the story of my father’s transfer and stuff started and i had to discontinue due to family situations.. after tat marriage, kid and all those stuff which led to a situation tat i’m not even able to practise.
Now i’m 27 and i’ve a 2 yr old kid ( i had a C section).. i felt it was God’s gift tat i’ve a daughter and of course i wanted one so tat at least i can fulfil my dream thro her (and this dream story is continuing only as a dream since three generations and the dream was started by my Mom who is no more).. so was just thinking to start once again my Most Loved Passion..
so i just wanted to know will the C section i’ve undergone would b a barrier and i’m planning for my next baby after a year or so, so ‘ll tat also be a barrier??
and from Mrs. Meenakshi Chittaranjan Mam, i”ve learnt till jathiswaram and if i practise and send u the videos, can u correct me if i’m wrong somewhere?? if so how to send u??
SORRY FOR WASTING YOUR TIME BY A LONG LONG RESPONSE.. BUT PLEASE DO FIND TIME TO REPLY.. let me be a squrriel helping Rama who is taking this divine art to homes worldwide.. hats off to your job
@Vidhya, Glad that you have been benefited. God bless! Yes you can send me your videos or upload on youtube, shall keep adding comments that might help you. C-section should not be barrier in pursuing your passion. There are many dancers pursuing their carrier inspite of surgery and injuries.
hey anjali this is a great effort on your part
i just wanted to know how can i get jatis online not jaatis
the jatis used in varnam, jatisvaram etc.
@Sonam, jatis for Bharatanatyam Cd by Mr Anirudha might help. check this link http://www.raaga.com/channels/carnatic/moviedetail.asp?mid=cl00787
@Adriana, A series of CD’s and books on karnas by Dr Padma subramaniyam is available on many online website. That will help help.
Great great website to share your excellent efforts at promoting the dance form you are passionate about! My best wishes are with you, Anjali!
Hi Anjali, I have learnt Barathnatyam in my childhood but was not able to continue furthur. Now again i have started learning from this site . It is very useful for me . The demonstrations given are very clear. Thank you so much Anjali. I wish to do Arengetram now, can you help me how to proceed, i dont have a guru to lead me now. Can you help me to proceed Anjali.
Namskar,
I am very happy to have found your instruction videos. I wasnt sure , at first, if it would be appropriate to imitate classical Indian dance, but after finding your welcoming and very helpful videos, i decided to honor this art form by learning it and proudly performing it in my dance artist community. I just adore not only the movements but also the meaning behind them. What a thrill it is to experience this beautiful culture in this particular way. However, i do have a question. Im trying to find the complete music to all the dances you use in your demonstrations. I see a bunch online and on different websites but im not sure if they are the ones you use or if they are anywhere close. I would like to know where to look or how to order the dance music that best corresponds with your training videos. (Natesha Kautukam, Allarippu, and Pushpanjali)
Another question i have is, how can i get a performance dhoti or learn how to tie the normal one i already have to fit this dancing?
Once more, I thank you sincerely for your wonderful work and accurate teachings!
-Markandeya M.
@Markandeya, Appreciate your positive feedback. I like Kalakendra . com for my audios. They have the neatesha kautukam audio. Apart from that I have the pushpanjali audio link in the post. Regarding the dhoti, I hope I can find something for you.
PLease help me. I urgently need an item song for an opening ceremony. Can u provide me. thanks
Mam, Thanks to have a dedicated personality like you. I think that i’ll be in contact with you.
Hi Anjali,
Thankyou for providing such an amazing resource and being of such a generous spirit with the knowledge you possess.
I just wanted to write a note to thankyou… As I know a lot of effort went into this website… And not many people would be so generous.