Beginner’s Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance) course

Name: Beginner’s Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance) course
Rating: 4.8 (33 reviews)

Learn Bharatnatyam for beginners through this easy course in order to gain exposure and explore your interest!

Created byUrvi Gupta

Last updated 8/2023

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What you'll learn

This Bharatanatyam course will help you get an insight into this dance form and sets you up for pursuing advanced learning.
On completion, you will be familiar with the basics of Bharatanatyam dance form: the namaskaram, basic steps, and the hand gestures used.
Giving one hour of your time to this course everyday will help you breeze through it!
It can take as little as twelve weeks, but if you want to perfect your dance it might take as much as 24 weeks.
By the end of the course, you can utilise your learnings to perform a dance piece to impress your family and friends!

Course content

6 sections • 29 lectures • 1h 39m total length

Introduction2:09
Learn a bit about the type of Bharatnatyam style we will be learning.
The namaskaram3:44
The namaskaram is a series of simple steps that is done at the stat and end of every dance session. It is the way of offering prayer and seeking blessing from God, Earth and the Guru.
The exercises12:32
Master a structured warm-up for beginner Bharatanatyam with meru mundi, butterfly, chin-to-floor, almond and split poses, plus hand and leg exercises, counts, and tempo speeds.

The single hand gestures4:58
Hand gestures help in conveying stories and meaningful messages. Single hand gestures are like the alphabets of the language of Bharatanatyam.
The double hand gestures3:18
In this video we will be learning the double hand gestures otherwise known as the Samyutha hastas.
The simple and most frequently used standing positions3:30
Learn the basic standing and hand positions in Bharatanatyam, including Sampada, Armandi, Muru Mandali, Swastika, Natya Rambha, and the oval mudra to improve dance formations.

The first Thattadavu1:59
In this section, from lecture 7 to 14, you will be learning the first basic steps of Bharatanatyam which includes only footwork and the striking of the feet. These are known as the Thattadavu. There are 8 variations of this adavu and each of them are performed in three different speeds.
The second Thattadavu1:09
Master the second Thattadavu in this beginner Bharatanatyam course by placing your hands behind your back, bending the arm, and tapping your right and left legs twice, with guided practice.
The third Thattadavu1:36
The fourth Thattadavu1:35
The fifth Thattadavu1:45
Master the fifth thattadavu in beginner's Bharatanatyam by placing your hands on your waist, adopting the arm position, and performing the leg taps five times.
The sixth Thattadavu1:55
The seventh Thattadavu2:16
Learn the seventh thattadavu in Bharatanatyam, mastering a sequence of tapping the right leg thrice, left leg once, then right leg thrice across seven counts, with guided demonstration and practice.
The eighth Thattadavu2:04
Learn the eighth thattadavu in Bharatanatyam, practicing a slow-four then fast-three count sequence to improve tala rhythm and stamina in arm position.

The first Nattadavu2:38
In this section, from lecture 15 to 22, you will be learning the second basic step of Bharatanatyam which includes footwork and stretching as well as hand movements. These are known as the Nattadavu. These also have 8 variations and each of them are performed in three different speeds.
The second Nattadavu1:58
Learn the footwork for the second Nattadavu, repeating the motions from the first twice. Align the hand movements in the Tripitaka mudra and practice at all three speeds.
The third Nattadavu3:14
Master the third nattadavu through arm and leg sequences, including right/left leg stretches and behind-the-leg tap, then coordinate nadir with Tripitaka mudra and Nakayama hand placements using counts.
The fourth Nattdavu3:33
The fifth Nattadavu3:18
Master the fifth nattadavu by coordinating footwork with counts 1-8, perform hand positions in front of your chest, stretch to padma, switch to nattaya rambhau, and finish with tipitaka mudra.
The sixth Nattadavu2:52
Learn the sixth Nattadavu through precise footwork and hand gestures, pairing arm positions, Tripitaka mudra, Natya Rambha, and rhythm practiced in three speeds for expressive Bharatanatyam basics.
The seventh Nattadavu3:10
The eighth Nattadavu3:49
perform the eighth nattadavu footwork with front-right and left-tap sequences, transitions to a sit, then shape hands from kataka mukha mudra to padma mudra, practiced at three speeds.

The first Paraval adavu5:45
In this section, from lecture 23 to 26, you will be learning the third basic step of Bharatanatyam which covers space and incorporates different types of hand gestures. There are 4 variations of this adavu and each of them are performed in three different speeds.
The second Paraval adavu8:37
Learn the second paraval adavu footwork in beginner Bharatanatyam, mirroring the first paraval with turning on the left side and forward-backward motions, plus coordinated hand movements.
The third Paraval adavu8:32
Learn the footwork for the third paraval adavu—the swastika position, kicks, taps—and coordinate hand movements in the doula position, with the right hand at the chest and the left away.
The fourth Paraval adavu3:48
Learn the fourth paraval adavu's footwork and hand gestures in this beginner Bharatanatyam lesson, with left-side jumps in the Ahmadi position, swastika position steps, and the eight-count hand movements.

Learning the dance piece1:52
This is the fun part of the course where you can compile your learnings to put together a dance piece and perform it for your loved ones!
Performing the dance piece1:21
Learn to perform the dance piece in beginner’s Bharatanatyam, a course in Indian classical dance, with a focus on foundational technique and performance skills.
Thankyou for attending the course0:20
Continue your Bharatanatyam journey by learning more advanced steps and dance pieces, building on this beginner course and wishing you the best of luck on your learning journey.

Requirements

No prior Bharatanatyam knowledge or experience is required for this course. You will be learning everything you need to know to advance to the intermediate level.

Description

Have you wanted to learn the basics of Bharatnatyam but didn't want to commit to it? Have you ever wanted to learn the basics of Bharatnatyam for a one time dance performance or to enter a dance club? Then this course is for you! By attending this course you will be able to learn the basic steps or adavus of Bharatnatyam. Furthermore, you will be able to explore this classical dance form and decide whether you want to continue learning it in the future.

On completing this course you will be familiar with the basics of the oldest, Indian classical dance form, Bharatanatyam. You will also be well versed with the namaskaram, the exercises, the beautiful hand gestures used to convey different stories, as well as the basic adavus or steps that are the base of every dance piece in Bharatanatyam. Furthermore, you will be able to perform a basic Bharatanatyam dance piece to showcase your learnings and impress your family and friends! After learning, you can create your own dance piece to any song of your choice in the future!

Hope you take this course and have fun learning. I wish you the best of luck on your Bharatnatyam journey!

Who this course is for:

Anyone interested in learning about a magical Indian classical dance form: Bharatnatyam, how to perform its basics, and whether they want to continue learning the dance form in the future.

Beginner’s Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance) course

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction to Bharatanatyam3 lectures • 18min

The basics of Bharatanatyam3 lectures • 12min

The Thattadavus8 lectures • 14min

The Nattadavus8 lectures • 25min

The Paraval adavus4 lectures • 27min

Learning a dance piece3 lectures • 4min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: