Bharatanatyam · Tamil Nadu
Online Bharatanatyam classes, taught live
Bharatanatyam is the oldest of India's classical dance forms and the most common first choice. At Narthaki you learn it live over video, corrected as you dance, from the very first adavu through to full items and, in time, arangetram.
What you actually learn
You begin with posture and the araimandi, the half-sitting stance that every movement is built on. From there come the adavus, the basic step units, taught one group at a time until they are steady.
As the adavus settle you move into small compositions, then into full items such as the alarippu, jatiswaram and, later, the varnam that sits at the centre of a Bharatanatyam repertoire. Abhinaya, the art of telling a story with the face and hands, is woven in from early on rather than bolted on at the end.
Theory is part of every stage. Bharatanatyam students learn the grammar and background of the form, not only the steps, so what you dance always has a reason behind it.
How the online class works
Each class runs one hour, live over video, four times a month. Your teacher watches you and corrects you in the moment, exactly as she would standing in front of you. Nothing is pre-recorded.
Batches are kept small so every student is seen and corrected by name in every class. Ask, and a recording of the day's class is shared afterwards so you can practise against it during the week.
A five-week month still has four classes, and the fee stays the same, so your schedule never changes unexpectedly.
Who it is for
Complete beginners are the norm here. Children usually start around the age of five, once they can hold attention for an hour, and adults starting from nothing are common in the online batches.
Because classes are live and scheduled around your time zone, students across India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the Middle East learn together with the same teacher. Classes run in English or Malayalam, whichever is easier at home.
Questions
How long does it take to learn Bharatanatyam?+
It is a lifelong art, but a committed beginner moves through the basic adavus in the first several months and into small items within the first year or two. Arangetram, the first full solo performance, usually comes after some years of steady practice; there is no fixed timetable, and nobody is rushed.
Do I need any equipment to learn Bharatanatyam online?+
Very little. A stable internet connection, a device with a camera propped so the teacher can see your feet, and about two metres of clear floor. Ghungroos (ankle bells) are added later, once your footwork is ready for them.
Can adults start Bharatanatyam, or is it only for children?+
Adults are welcome and common in our online classes. The first lessons are built for people who have never danced, and the pace follows the student rather than a fixed syllabus.
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.