Dance Lessons for beginners
All beginners are grouped by age into the following categories:
Tiny-tots (Ages 5-7)
Sub-juniors (Ages 8-12)
Juniors (Ages 13-17)
Adults (Ages 18 and up)
Pravesh
The Bharatanrityam journey begins with intense stretching excercises that specifically target the muscle groups that are used heavily in the practice of Bharatanatyam. At Kanha we heavily emphasize flexibility and fitness and spend the first 15 mins of every class stretching and warming up.
Students are then taught Natyashastra theory starting with Vyayamas for the angas (namely head, arms, legs) and various other upangas (namely lips, eyebrows, Feet, chest, Stomach, thighs etc. )
Asamyuta Hastas and Samyuta Hastas (one and two handed gestures) form an essential part of the basic Bharatanatyam training. At the Pravesh level, all Kanha students learn the hastas.
Upon completing the above curriculum, students will move on to the next level - Pratham.
INCLUDES
- Stetching and flexibilty for dance
- Vyayamas and Hastas
Pratham
At the Pratham level students receive rigorous training in Adavus. Adavus are the basic building blocks for Bharatanatyam. Completing all the adavus will take between 1-2 years. Students can expect this to be the longest and most rigorous part of the study of Bharatnatyam.
The completion of all the Adavus leads students to further learn a traditional dance piece called the Alarippu. The Alarippu gives them a chance to use some of the adavus learnt as well as get their first taste of what performing a Bharatnatyam dance feels like.
Upon completing Pratham, students move on to the most awaited part of the curriculum - Dwitiya
INCLUDES
Adavus
Alarippu (Tishram)
Alarippu (Mishram)
Dwitiya
Students are introduced to a Bharatanatyam 'Margam' format. A traditional recital would consist of certain types of dances classified as Pushpanjali/Kauthvam, Jathiswaram, Varnam and Thillana. At the Dwitiya level, students learn these pieces.
At the Dwitiya level, depending on the commitment, talent and interest of each student the Kanha teachers may decide to showcase their work on stage either in a solo or group format. These performances include school recitals and other local programs held across the bay area.
INCLUDES
- A Pushpanjali
- A Jathiswaram
- A Varnam
- A Thillana
Tritiya
Tritiya consists of advanced coursework. The program starts with Charis - a series of leg movements that form the basis of the study of Karanas. Nritta Hastas are moving hand gestures prescribed in the Natya Shastra. The Charis when combined with Nritta Hastas will prepare students to learn an advanced set of 108 movements called Karanas.
Dances that specifically incorporate Charis and Nritta hastas will be introduced into the students repertoire.
INCLUDES
- Charis
- Nritta Hastas
- dances based on Natya Shashtra style
Arangetram track
Upon completing the Tritiya level, Kanha teachers will decide which students can progress to learning a course that will culminate in a 2 hour solo-debut recital of the student. This is popularly called an Arangetram. Only highly promising and talented student who can commit to a rigorous practice schedule will be accepted into the Arangetram track.
INCLUDES
- An entire Bharatanrityam Margam
A Special event for highly promising students who can commit to and deliver a quality program
Kanha Arangetram
Our Studio
East bay, California
106 Capari Ct, Danville CA 94506
Contact Us
You can email or call with your inquiries. As an option you can also fill out the form to the right and we will get back to you asap. We look forward to getting to know you.
Call Phone: 408-594-9244
Email: ashwinisrivatsan@gmail.com