SAMARPANA INSTITUTE OF DANCE
Dedicated to inspiring creative excellence!
BHARATHANATYAM - Dance Classes
Learning Bharathanatyam could be a life long journey that helps students develop essential life skills, such as self discipline, patience, perseverance, endurance and resilience.
At Samarpana, each student is valued for their own unique strengths, and is given room to develop their creative spirit.
Bharathanatyam is a great activity that enhances physical fitness as well as emotional well-being.
Students progress through three broad levels over a number of years of Bharathanatyam training while learning many aspects of the dance form, including the history, culture, dance theory, classical music and rhythm.
Students are also given opportunities to pursue advanced training in the art of Bharathanatyam, so they can pursue careers as a performing artist or dance teacher.
CHILDREN'S BEGINNER GROUPS
The beginner lessons focus on laying a strong foundation for students by bringing awareness to correct posture, body alignment and the basic stances in Bharathanatyam. Students continue to practice body awareness while learning the Adavus (basic building blocks of Bharathanatyam). Dance theory and rhythm are also introduced.
Mukula - Flower Buds (5-8 years)
Children are introduced to the basic stances, feet positions and hand gestures used in Bharathanatyam, while developing their balance, coordination, posture and flexibility. Children learn to grasp a good sense of rhythm while learning the basic steps and enjoy simple exercises and fun activities. Mukula classes are available at Blacktown and Pendle Hill. View our Timetable.
Brahmari - Honey Bees (7-10 years)
The honeybees begin to work on coordination of their hands, legs and eye movements with their basic steps. They develop confidence with faster speeds, and develop knowledge of various footwork and spatial movements.
Mayura - Peacocks (9-12 years)
The peacocks start to learn more challenging steps that involve both quick & graceful movements such as: jumps, spins, turns, kicks. They also develop knowledge of various rhythm patterns and the stylised movements of the head, eyes and neck in Bharathanatyam. These students also start to explore simple song sequences using simple hand gestures & expressions.
INTERMEDIATE GROUPS (Pre-teens & teens)
Intermediate students continue to enhance their knowledge of various adavus, particularly the more complex ones, and begin learning dance items in a traditional Bharathanatyam repertoire. Students also learn theoretical aspects of Bharathanataym, and thalam (nuances of rhythm in Indian classical music and dance).
Mriga - Deers (10 - 13 years)
The deers learn challenging adavus (steps) in Bharathanatyam, completing their foundational training. They continue to learn simple invocatory items and devotional songs, where they begin to explore the art of abhinaya (expressive dance).
Paavai - Maidens (14-19 years)
The Paavais learn various performance pieces, including the varnam, the central piece of a repertoire, that delves into the core aspects of Bharathanatyam – nritta (pure dance), nritya (expressive dance), and natya (drama & story telling). They begin to understand characterisation, and the central themes of expressive dance pieces.
ADULT GROUPS
Young Adult Beginner (18-24 years)
This group is suitable for university students wishing to learn Bharathanatyam for the first time. This class runs on Fridays at 4 pm in Blacktown.
Adult Beginner 1 (25 years +)
This group is suitable for older adults who have not previously learnt Bharathanatyam, and wish to improve their physical fitness and get connected to their passion. Adult Beginner 1 group is available on Saturdays at 9 am in Blacktown.
Adult Beginner 2
Adult students who have already learnt some basic adavus (steps) and working on improving their foundation, while learning the more complex adavus in Bharathanatyam.
Adult Intermediate
Students learn various items of a repertoire. Adults who have already completed the Beginner course with us can join the adult intermediate group. If you have learnt some Bharathanatyam from another school or teacher, and want to start at the intermediate level, please contact us, as we will need to assess you first.
ADVANCED TRAINING
Arangetram Training
This is a one-on-one intense training for one year, to prepare the student for their maiden solo concert. Arangetram is an important milestone in the dance student's journey. Students often discover a part of themselves while going through this process and gain many essential life skills.
Pre-requisites: Students must have completed learning up to the intermediate level under us. This includes a full Margam (repertoire) or at least learnt one varnam.
Advanced (post-arangetram) training
Students continue to learn new repertoires, and develop more advanced skills and knowledge. Students begin to develop a deeper level of Abhinaya (expression) techniques through the learning of various padams and javalis. Students are also challenged to explore choreography skills, through various critical thinking exercises.
Nattuvangam (Teacher training)
Students who wish to become dance teachers or to conduct and lead a dance recital will need to be well-equipped with the art of Nattuvangam.
For more information about our Nattuvangam course, click here.