Online Bharatanatyam Classes | Learn dance via Video Chat (Skype or Google Hangouts) or Video Lessons

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Congratulations!! You have taken your first step (or maybe n-th...?) towards pursuing one of the most ancient and beautiful dance forms of India! And I would love to teach you whatever I've learned in my 20 years of Bharatanatyam training!

Before you decide on this method...
Bharatanatyam is a dance form that takes years and years to master. As such, the Guru-Shishya tradition of imparting lessons is the best way to pursue this dance form. The years I spent with my Guru were memorable and instrumental in shaping my dance the way it is today. Although I love teaching Bharatanatyam and have found the Online Method to be very effective - especially for accelerated progress; I would still advise you to learn from a teacher offline, if possible. Learning from a teacher directly is a beautiful experience! Of course, online one-on-one teaching is a close second! :-)

So before you decide to contact me to learn Bharatanatyam online, I urge you to make the attempt to find a teacher in your neighborhood. (especially if you are in India, there are so many teachers available in almost every city! Don't restrict to a Google search. Search your local contact registry!)

Ready? Great! Let's get started!

What I can Teach You?

1. Kalakshetra style steps (Adavu)
2. Theory in Bharatanatyam
3. Over 200 Items & Songs (Margam)  ** (see below)
4. Hand Gestures - Mudras
5. Rhythms - Thaalams
6. Bharatanatyam Exercises
7. Choreograph classical or semi classical songs for any program/function

List of Items / Songs that I Know (multiple compositions in each category)

1. Invocatory items - Kautuvams, Anjali etc.
2. Alarippu
3. Jatiswaram
4. Shabdam
5. Varnam
6. Padams, Keertanams & Javali
7. Thillana
8. Kavadi / Koothu / Thematic songs
9. Other semi classical & contemporary choreography

Natyakriya Online Bharatanatyam Classes - The Details

• This is a comprehensive method of learning aimed at imparting lessons at an accelerated pace. Progress in this method is usually observed to be twice (or more) as faster as a regular group class
• The classes are held via Google Hangouts or Skype (or any other video chat medium)
• You can customize the classes based on your schedule. You also get to choose how many hours of class you want to have during the month (dates & timings will be decided a month in advance)
• I often travel to remote locations in India & elsewhere; due to which I have to pay high internet charges, tax rates & transaction rates. The fees are structured just to cover the costs. They are inclusive of tax rates, PayPal charges, audio/video/theory material given to the student and other fixed charges incurred to offer the classes. In case you are 2-4 people who want to learn together as a group, I request you to fill out the form just once. I shall be giving you classes at a reduced rate.
• Fees have to be paid BEFORE the start of classes every month via PayPal or NEFT Payments to my Indian Bank.
• If you have ANY other questions, feel free to ask them in the form below.

An Alternative: Video Tutorials sent to your Mailbox!

It is my dream to make this dance form accessible to as many people as possible! However, due to work and time constraints, I am not able to do that. As a cheaper and more feasible alternative, I offer the option of learning through my video tutorials. In this method, I would regularly send you videos of steps / portion that you have to follow. This is effective for older students who can confidently follow tutorials and teach themselves.

Are you INTERESTED? Please Fill the form below as accurately as possible for availability, rates, timings and other information. I shall get back to you at the earliest -

Introduction to Thaalam / Taal / Tāla | Rhytmic Pattern or Beats in Bharatanatyam

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I cannot stress the importance of "Thaalam"  or "Tala" (ताल ) in dance. The entire dance is set to a particular Taal and has to be followed with utmost precision. Even missing one beat in the Taal can be catastrophic! :-D And I'm being over melodramatic. Well.. not catastrophic. But messing up the Beats (Taal) will definitely mess up your performance and make people notice your mistakes.

"Taalam" (तालं ) is a Sanskrit word that means "to clap". A Bharatanatyam dance is usually set to Carnatic Music and Carnatic Music is set to rhythmic pattern of beats known as Taalam. An understanding of the Talam System of Carnatic Music will ensure a wholesome learning of this art form. (Not all Bbharatanatyam dancers learn Carnatic Music. It isn't a prerequisite. But it is noticed that those who learn both Carnatic Music and Bharatanatyam together have a better understanding of the system of Talam, Ragam, Emotions etc. So if you get the chance to learn both, do learn them!)

Rhythm in Carnatic music changes for each composition. Songs are set to a specific Thaalam or beat. (Some songs may have multiple rhythms). Each and every Thaalam has a structure, that is governed by the rules pertaining to it. In Carnatic Music, each pulse (every hit) is called "Aksharam" (अक्षर ) that are placed at equal intervals (although each interval is capable of being divided into faster or slower Swaras). Each Thaalam comes in cycles of a number of beats, called an "Aavartanam" (आवर्तन ). So the total number of "Aksharams" (hits) make up one "Aavartanam" of a Thaalam.

Thandai Muzhanga Lyrics | Murugan Bharatanatyam Shabdam

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 If you don't know what a Shabdam in Bharatanatyam means, I urge you to read my article on the same. It is an item wherein the Abhinaya (or expressions) are introduced for the first time in a recital. Needless to say, the emphasis being on Abhinaya, Shabdam is not a Nritta-piece.

Thandai Muzhanga is a beautiful dance piece on Lord Karthikeya (or Lord Muruga) who is the son of Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati. Almost 9 years ago, I did this very same Shabdam for my Arangetram. I've learned quite a few Shabdams since then, but this remains to be my favorite item.  

Although the audio in this video is not clear, it'll give you an idea of the tune of this Shabdam. I found this on YouTube. If you want the Thandai Muzhanga Shabdam SONG for download, please click "Read More"

What is a Shabdam in Bharatanatyam?

What is a Shabdam (read: Sh-uhb-dham - शब्दं )?

Shabdam is a Bharatanatyam Item in which the Expressions (or Abhinaya) are introduced for the first time in the repertoire. The song (saahityam) is usually separated into stanzas and between each stanza, you'll have a simple Korvai (nritta steps). Each stanza can contain a different story or all of them put together is one single story. But essentially the whole item is about one person, one theme.

This item is usually set to the Misra Chapu Thaalam and Ragamalika (different Ragams or Tunes for different stanzas). Misra Chapu Thaalam is a series of 7 beats (1-2-3 ; 1-2-3-4 or tha-ki-ta ; tha-ka-dhi-mi)

The movements here are leisurely. In the Shabdam, emotions are withheld at the beginning; thereafter, when the dancer has clarified herself, they are released in a measured and disciplined manner.

Shabdams are also referred to as Yashogeethams . They have also inherited an Islamic Influence of repeating the Salaam or Namostute (paying respects to the Almighty or the King) at the end of each line. This pleased the patrons. Initially Shabdams were composed and rendered in one Raaga. But it is now a common practice to use one Raaga (or tune) for each stanza and present the composition in Raagamalika.

Some of the Shabdams that I know of are listed below. There may be many more to the list. Please let me know by leaving a comment on this post. I shall be happy to update the list -

Thandai Muzhanga

Aayar Seriyar

Adum Mayil

Vayu Maidane

Aazhi Suzhnthida

Ramar

Devi Thaye

Shivan

Venu Gananai

Krishna Manjari

Myilai Pujitha

Sararijakshulu