Art & Craft · Live online, small batches
Bharatanatyam
Live online Bharatanatyam classes for beginners: adavus, mudras and abhinaya, taught step by step from home.
- Two classes
- every week
- 45 minutes
- live, each class
- First class
- free
What Bharatanatyam is
Bharatanatyam is the oldest of the classical dance forms still danced, and online it is learnt the same way it is in a hall: one adavu at a time, in front of a teacher who can see your feet. Beginners start at the beginning: posture, aramandi and the first adavus. Every learner is corrected by name, every class.
The body learns the story before the words arrive.
What they will learn
- Aramandi, posture and the basic adavus, built up in the traditional order
- Hasta mudras, and what each one means when it appears in a piece
- Tala and jathi: keeping time aloud, and dancing to it without drifting
- A first item, Pushpanjali or Alarippu, danced from memory
What the benefits are
- Stamina, balance and posture, built by an hour that does not feel like exercise
- Expression and stage presence, which carry straight into speaking and performance
- A classical training available at home, where no teacher lives nearby
How the 45 minutes run
- Warm-up, then last week's adavus revised with the tala spoken aloud
- One new adavu or mudra, demonstrated from two angles on camera
- Every learner dances it alone while the teacher watches and corrects
- A short daily practice, with a clip sent back if the family wants feedback
What they still have in twenty years
A classical form in the body, which stays there: posture, rhythm and a discipline that can be picked up again after years away.
Batches by age
Anyone can join this class
4 to 6years
Learning by ear, through story and repetition
6 to 10years
Sound and meaning together, with reading begun
10 to 15years
Text, grammar and discussion in full
Adults join dedicated batches. Tell us the learner's age when you book and we will place them in the right group.
When it runs
Batches for this class are opening now, and timings are set with the families who join. Tell us the days and hours that suit you.
Times are IST. Tell us your time zone and we will place you in the batch that lands at a sensible local hour.
Bharatanatyam for families outside India
Learners join this class from 22 countries. Pick yours to see what time our batches land where you are.
Questions about Bharatanatyam
Who can join Bharatanatyam?
Anyone. Batches run at 4 to 6, 6 to 10 and 10 to 15, and adults have batches of their own, so a learner is placed by age rather than turned away by it. No prior knowledge is assumed: most learners start from nothing.
Is Bharatanatyam taught live?
Live, always, in a small batch with the camera on. A recording cannot hear a mistake and correct it, and that correction is most of what you are paying for.
When does Bharatanatyam run?
Batches for this class are opening now and the timings are set with the families who join. We schedule around the learner's time zone rather than around Indian hours, so tell us where you are and we will place you in a batch that lands at a sensible local hour.
What will my child actually be able to do?
Aramandi, posture and the basic adavus, built up in the traditional order; Hasta mudras, and what each one means when it appears in a piece; Tala and jathi: keeping time aloud, and dancing to it without drifting. Beyond the syllabus: A classical form in the body, which stays there: posture, rhythm and a discipline that can be picked up again after years away.
What does Bharatanatyam cost?
Fees depend on the batch and how often it meets. Message us on WhatsApp for the current fee list. The 30-minute trial class is free, with no payment details taken.
Try Bharatanatyam free
Leave your details and we will find a batch that fits the learner's age and your time zone. Or message us on WhatsApp at +91 91803 77502.
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Free 30-minute trial class
Still deciding about Bharatanatyam?
Message us with the learner's age and what interests them. We will tell you honestly whether this is the right class to start with.
Or call +91 91803 77502 · Mon to Sat, 9am to 8pm IST
Not sure which class?
Tell us the learner's age and what they enjoy and we will suggest one to start with. Most families begin with a single class and add a second later.