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.
Hello, nice to meet you. We are interested in indian classical dances . may be you have disk DVD with your class. can we buy this disk and resive it by post.
Hey Gauri, thank you. I shall get back to you with some details soon.
I appreciate your ardent wish to use the ‘SKY’ (the web) as the limit for Barathanatyam (so far left out) fittingly to pay obience
to the Great COSMIC DANCER LORD NATARAJA. I agree guru-sishya is important to learn flawless work, but i’m sure your
great attempt will deiinitely help the sishyas to practice at home,
since the classes arenot affordable on dailly basis nor the Guru is free to teach daily.
May the Lord NATARAJA bless you and your site to grow and prosper.
Srinivasan
Hello Mr Srinivasan, your words will always keep me motivated. Glad you liked it. God bless !! Thanks.
Hi, my son’s friend is haveing the Bharatanatyam Arangetram, and he is wanting to know what is a good gift to give her atter her Bharatanatyam….Thank You,
i’ve started bharathanatyam lessons but live abroad..i am thinking of going in holidays and learning but can u suggest any ways of learning while i’m abroad ..will ur website help me in doing that..I’m 14 now and i really want to learn..i don’t have the oppotunity here
or can i learn it by myself is there any cds? plz help me
hello anjali , i am bindu rao . i did my vidwat in karnataka. now i am teaching in kolhapur (maharastra) , , it is difficult to give notes in hindhi or marati for exams do you know any books related to bharatanatyam in hindhi or marati . bye bindu
Nelda,
There is no specific rules in case of giving gifts for arangetram. A jewelery box or a make up set is a good match for the occasion.
Radha,
Where are you located? I provide online personal lessons to people like you who do not have easy access to teachers. I shall mail you the details soon.
Bindu,
I have personally not referred a hindi or marathi book. I am sure there are options. will get back to you. Also try contacting giri trading who keeps a good stock of books on Bharatanatyam.
I like bharatanatyam very much
very beautiful..
in fact i do think you should be an expert coz you have had the opportunity to perform at so many stages..
Thanks Arun, though I teach and perform, I am learning a lot in the process. A continuous learning process…
Can u please email me the details of ur online lessons thank u
I want 2 join it
Thanks for your comment anjali
🙂
Though that is humble of you to think like that i do think you are exceptionally talented or else someone else might have been performing insted of you
🙂
Hello Rani…I saw your last comment by the name of radha!! I have mailed you the details. Any ways will send you again
oh sorry about that my friend posted it 4 me…thanku.
i didn’t get the email..): can u try sending on this address please…
Dear Anjali,
You are doing a fantastic work. Your contribution to the art world cannot be described in words. I am a carnatic classical singer. I have learnt music for close to 5 years. But I was interested in learning dance too, but couldn’t pursue during my early days. I have started learning bharatnatyam from your Youtube videos. I am 25 now, currently in UK, so do you think it is a bit too late for me to start? Please do reply as I want to know your precious feedback.
Thanks,
Anjali
Thanks Sowmya. Glad to know you are able to learn from the videos. You can very well start learning dance now. I have women much older than you who learn from me and they are doing very well. Please go ahead and take your lessons.
Hello Anjali,
I am a trained Bharata Natyam dancer myself with a formal training of 9 years now. I have also acquired a “Nritya Visharad” from Bharatiya Sangeet Samiti (Mumbai).
Currently I am settled in Bhavnagar and here I have found a guru for myself and now I am preparing for “Arangetram”
Since “margam” will go on for a year now I was wondering if you cold give me some tips on how to build up stamina for my first stage performance!
Thnaks
Practice..practice and practice is the best way to improve your stamina. You need not do anything else for building stamina. Eat good food and keep yourself hydrated after every session.
Can i get more details too ??
I have already posted a mail to you.I wish to leanr bharatnatyam from the point of view of giving exams and to be a knowledgable dancer in this art.I have learnt it for few months when i was 12 but have not much traces left in my mind :).I am in US,illinois right now.I am 26 years old.I wanted to know is it a bit late to start this training?I also wanted to know ow does this online training works?
Anjali,
Your Website is very resourceful.My daughter is 7 year old and she is learning Bhrathanatyam from Guru Kripa bhaskaran in Wisconsin, Since I dont know much about the Bharthanatyam,your website is very resourceful to learn .
Thanks for your effort and its appreciated.
Geetha
Hi Madhura, You can certainly start learning dance. I have mailed you with the details.
Thank you Geetha. I Wish your daughter good luck with her lessons. God bless!!
hai anjali
im glad that i got u online….. i m assumtha and i currently in italy for a vacation and we have great festival and my friends force me for a bharathnatyam dance,yes i know say abt 60% of it but now i lost touch wit could u please help me to find a nice bharathnayam film song which would be a bit fast……
waiting for ur reply through mail
bye
kind regards
assumtha
Hi Anjali..
This is balaji, architect working in Bahrain (Middle east). Am such a passionate lover of indian classical art forms. Bharathanatyam is my strong passion since childhood to this date. Unfortunately, without proper backing i cudn’t learn it at all. Now, i staying in bahrain with tight schedules, am not finding enough time or right place to learn from. I had always been looking over the internet to find a site which could guide me through basic concepts and steps which i cud atleast manage to know from home. Yours is such a great site i came across which really has helped me a lot. Still i feel the lack of a guiding Guru, which i hope to find soon after getting back to India. I would like to know whether there is any specific variation in style performed by male performers or can i just follow your videos in the exact way you do it? In many of the shows i hv noticed gents performing in a sturdy fashion whereas ladies do it more gracefully.. so the doubt arises.. I kindly request you to guide me on this issue.. I really wish this site keep going very successfully.
Thank you Balaji for your wishes. I wish you find a good teacher for yourself soon. Naturally men have more Tandavam (stronger movements) than lasyam(soft). It is always advisable for male dancers not to perform the lasyam way (except for certain characters in kathakali and kuchipudi). Good male dancers are not feminine yet have graceful movements. Male students are advised not to dance effeminately by their teachers. In case of my videos there will be slight changes in if you are referring it. These videos are only reference in case you are learning it or need to revise them. I offer online lessons for those who have been following my videos, that way they get their corrections and finishing touches during the session.
Hello Anjali , I enjoy viewing your video clips that you provide that is very informative but, i wanted to ask if you could provide more close ups as far as the leg movements .i also would like to recommend that you use more of the bare floor instead of the carpet while you film these basic movements. Regards,Mesak
Which is better dance to learn Bharat natyam or Kathak and what is the diference between this two?
Thank you Mesak.
Hi Ranjan, Both the dance styles have their unique features. It is impossible to identify one as a better form. A few difference are prominent in the Music, the dressing, and the movements. BH is based on the carnatic classical while Kh has the hindustani classical. Bh movements are performed often in the Half sitting postures, whereas the Kh is performed in the samapada (standing) positions. Please watch some videos of both styles and you will clearly see the differences. It all depends on which style appeals to you the most.
@assumtha bernadina: assuming ur Xtian ? u might find some of classical-like bhajan/ dance on Kisho Geos video page, or else tamil Angel TV, Kerala Shalom TV or Divine Vision TV send some occasionally (google)
http://www.kishogeo.com/
Namaskaram,
Am very impressed by your immediate response for my query posted yesterday. Thanks a million. Learning this graceful art of bharatanatyam (Even interested in other forms of dances) has been my dream since childhood. Dance is very close to my heart. Am 25 now and somehow i couldnt manage to learn till this age. I have classical training in flute for 4 years. I have a lot of confidence that i can pick up well with the help of some Guru like you. I have applied for the details of your online classes. Expecting the details from you. But am really concerned about the time. I could manage to access the internet either at night (11 pm and above) or at early morning (5 am to 7 am) as we friends are sharing the connection. Morning is preferable as i can get a room free for practice here. One more clarification please. Will it be possible for me to pick up the dance with a grace of men under the guidance of a lady Guru? Thanks for your concern. Waiting for the reply. My hearty wishes for all your efforts through this blog and one to one sessions.
Hello Balaji, I have mailed you with the details.
Thanks for the information you’ve given. I started doing bharatnatyam when i was 10 years old but it was on and off lessons. i didnt keep it up. i was still too young to decide if i want to do it or not but when i turned 14, i made up my mind that i’d do and thus started certificate one in Mauritius (where i’m from) but unfortunately i feel sick and really couldnt dance for alteast 1 whole year. i tried to start all over again but my parents decided to move to Australia and here i am 16 years old now, still interested in doing it but they dont have any classes here. i’d really love if online classes could help me.
do u think that’ll help me?
Cheers,
Yashna
Hello Yashana, thanks for letting us know about you. I have mailed you with the details. Looking forward to hear from you.
Hi Anjali,
Thanks so much for leaving a kind remark on my blog. It made my day. You have done a remarkable job in building this online school for Bharatnatyam. I often come here to get the sollukettu or the steps to the Adavus right. I am learning Kalakshetra style and I guess it is a little different than how you are teaching here but that doesnt really matter. Its great to learn the differences as well….thanks for your time and effort in doing this 🙂
Hi
such a great site with lots of infos.Thanks a lot. My daughter(age 7) is learning Bharatham in Toronto, Canada. Could u please give me some infos about Nanthikeshwarar Sthuthy, which she needs for her grade 2 exams? Thanks.
Hi mam,
I wanted to join your dance group.
Please guide.
Regards,
Rajeshwari Sharma
Excellent work! I learnt Bharatanatyam from age 4 to 12 and left abruptly but after watching a performance recently, I am inspired to restart learning/training again at 26 years of age. I may not be able to do my arangetram, but this time around I will be learning for learning’s sake and for the love of this dance form 🙂
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Thanks for the informations that you’ve given.. I’d studied the Classical dance for 10 years, and due to some reasons i couldn’t continue it.. Now i’m married and settled in Mumbai.. Here i got an opportunity to teach Classical dance. Actually i was searching through the internet for my refreshment, at that time i found you.. Wow !! you did a very good work Anjali.. My sincere thanks to you, for reminding me all the basic adavus and the theories…
Though i’m new to this teaching profession, i need some tips from your side.. Can you suggest me sessions for each class ?? I’m planning to take 3 classes in aweek for 1 hour.. How many portions that can i cover in 1 session ?? Whether i need to teach my students the detailed version of theories or can i start directly to the adavus etc etc.. I’ll be very grateful if you send a reply to me either through mail or through this..
Thanking You..
Cinna
Hey Chinna, you can start off with the Namaskaram and basic steps. you can cover two or three steps in a class. Since the class progress is based on the pace of the entire group. Initially practical lessons are interesting. Later get started with gestures and Navarasa which kids enjoy a lot. Also get back to practice and keep yourself updated.
Hey Arthi, thanks.
Hello Rajeshwari, please fill up this form . I shall get back to you.
Hey Suhi, what I understand by a nadikeshwara stuti is a Shiva Stuti or a kautukam. It is a song in praise of Lord Shiva, or the Lord of Nandi.
Hii Anjali,
I am also bharatnatyam dancer,and took my training about 9 years in India.I live in USA now,and now want to open my bharatntaym dance academy.
I would really appericiate if you could be teach me some basic information beofre starting it.
Waiting to seeyour reply.
Hi Anjali,
I’m very happy to see ur reply.. Whether i need to wait for all the 10 basic adavus( Tatta, natta, sutral, tattimetti, kudittametti etc..) to complete for starting an item or can i teach any simple item in between ??
Which should be first item that i’ve to teach them ?? Ganesh vandana, Kautuvam or any padam ??
I’ll be very happy if you complete that remaining Jati adavus soon.. Also i’m waitning for the mandi adavus 🙂
Luv,
Cinna
I am a student in India. I will be appearng third year exam.
I need help in remembering the sholka related to PATAKA, TRIPATAKA, AARDH PATAKA, KARTRI MUKHA, MAYUR, ARDH CHNDRA, ARALE, SUKHTUDKA.
All these add up to 100 Mudra.
As I grew up in US, it is hard for me to remeber by just words.
These above are shloka, if you can give me the sung narration, it will help me remeber them. And also the video for each one I would really appreciate it. My exams are in 10 days and I am very desperate.
I would really appreciate your help. Thank you!!
Chhaya