Bharatanatyam Foundations for Balance and Grace

Your Bharatanatyam journey starts here! This course is designed to give you a strong and confident base in this classical dance form. Each lesson is carefully structured to help you understand not just the movements, but also the meaning behind them.

Setting the Intention – Dhyana Shloka

You will begin with the Dhyana Shloka, a short prayer that helps you focus your mind before every practice. This simple ritual will prepare you mentally and emotionally for dance, allowing you to connect with the art form on a deeper level.

Strengthening Your Body – Warm-ups and Stability Poses

Before you start dancing, you will learn physical exercises and basic yoga-like poses to improve your posture, balance, and flexibility. This will make it easier to hold your positions and perform movements with grace and control.

Feeling the Beat – Understanding Laya (Rhythm)

Dance is all about rhythm! You will be introduced to the concept of laya and learn how to match your movements to the beat. This will help you stay in sync with the music and make your dance more expressive.

Building the Basics – Learning the Adavus

Step by step, you will practice Adavus (basic foot movements), starting with Tattadavu and gradually progressing to more advanced ones like Theermana Adavu (the concluding step). These adavus are the building blocks of Bharatanatyam and will give your dance strength and precision.

Expressing with Hands – Mudras

You will be introduced to - Asamyutha Hastas – single-hand gestures and Samyutha Hastas – double-hand gestures. These mudras will help you tell stories and express emotions through your dance.

Adding Grace – Head and Eye Movements

You will learn Shiro Bheda (head movements) and Drishti Bheda (eye movements) to add subtlety and grace to your performance. These movements bring life and character to every step you take.

Bringing It All Together – Swarajathi

Once you have practiced the basics, you will learn a Swarajathi – a dance piece that combines different adavus into beautiful patterns and formations. This will help you put your learning into practice and experience the joy of performing.

Preparing for the Next Level

By the end of this course, you will have a solid foundation in Bharatanatyam. You will feel confident with your posture, rhythm, movements, and expressions – ready to take on the next level of training.

About the Teacher

Sangeetha Ananthanarayan is a dedicated Bharatanatyam artist with over 25 years of training in the Kalakshetra baani. Born into a family of musicians and dancers, she began her dance journey under her mother, Naatyacharya Smt. Geetha Ananthanarayan, Director of Geethanjali School of Naatyam, Bengaluru, and a senior alumna of Bharata Kalanjali, Chennai. She further trained under renowned gurus Adyar Shri K. Lakshmanan and The Dhananjayans, and carries forward this rich legacy through her performances and teaching in India and abroad.

Sangeetha is a Vidwat holder in Bharatanatyam and holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Financial Management. Her 18 years of corporate experience bring a structured, disciplined, and professional approach to her teaching.

She has performed at prestigious venues including TEACH Auditorium Chennai, ICCR’s Every Friday Cultural Evening Programme, Sai Nrithyotsava, Aharnishi Festival, and Seva Sadan Festival. As a faculty member at Geethanjali School of Naatyam, she teaches students from beginner to advanced levels, focusing on preserving the authenticity and technique of the Kalakshetra style while inspiring students to develop grace, discipline, and a deep love for the art.