Guide
How long does it take to learn Bharatanatyam?
Honestly: the basics take months, a first full item takes about a year, and an arangetram usually takes several years of steady practice. Here is what each stage looks like, so you can set fair expectations.
After a few months
With four classes a month and some practice at home, a beginner usually has a steady posture, several groups of adavus and the basic hand gestures within the first few months. It will not yet look like a dance on stage, and that is normal.
After about a year
Most steady students can dance their first short items, such as the alarippu, in their first year or so. Expression starts to come in, and the footwork becomes cleaner and faster.
After several years
Longer and harder pieces, such as the varnam, come after some years. An arangetram, the first full solo performance, usually comes after several years of regular practice. There is no fixed number. It depends on how often you practise and when your teacher feels you are ready.
Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi
The timeline is similar for Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi: months for the basics, about a year for first items, several years for a full repertoire. Students who already know Bharatanatyam often move faster in a second form.
What speeds it up
Regular classes, practice between them, and corrections given early. A recording of each class, sent on request at Narthaki, helps students practise the right thing at home.
Questions
Can I learn Bharatanatyam in 6 months?+
You can learn the posture, several groups of adavus and the basic hand gestures in 6 months. Learning the full form takes years.
How many years does it take to do an arangetram?+
Usually several years of steady practice. There is no fixed timetable; the teacher decides when a student is ready.
How long does it take to learn Mohiniyattam?+
About the same as Bharatanatyam: months for the basics, about a year for first items, and several years for a full repertoire.
Enquire about classes
Send your name and number and we’ll reply on WhatsApp, usually within a few hours, to talk through timings and which form suits you.