Bharathanatyam Dance by Rukmini Natyakshetra Foundation, Mogappair

Bharathanatyam dance

Bharatanatyam is an Indian classical dance form. The God for dance is Natarajar. The word bharathanatyam is a combination of two words Bharatha and Natyam.

We saw a dance performance at Shiva Vishnu temple on the day of New Year - 2017. The dance team from Rukminidevi Natyakshetra Foundation. The performance given by the team was really good.

The video embedded at the end of this post shows a short clip from the dance performance on that day.

After the completion of the performance, a member from the dance academy came to speak. He said that they were not only teaching the students to dance but also were giving training to the students for everything like makeup for the dance, etc.

They said that they had strict selection procedures for for their multi-year dance training program. While speaking they said that in their training program students are assigned grades and not everyone passed.

They said that they are concentrating in each and every aspect of the art of dance.

It takes 7 years of rigorous training to complete the dance course in their academy.

Rukminidevi Natyakshetra Foundation offers the following classes to students -

1. Bharathanatyam
2. Carnatic Vocal Music
3. Veena, Violin, Flute
4. Mrudhangam
5. Keyboard
6. Painting

The age limit of the children should be 7-13. They usually admit kids twice a year only.

Their academic year begins in the month of June and ends in April. Vijayadasami admission is also possible.

The curriculum covers both theory and practical aspects of the art form (there is no theory for the painting course).

Every year they give an opportunity for students to perform on the stage based on their chosen art.

Here is the short dance video clip by the students from that day's function -