Whether you are a Gen Z or typical millennial, you'll notice one thing.
One of the most popular content on social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok is none other than videos of people dancing.
It could be in the form of a dance challenge like the viral song "Cupid" by K-pop group, Fifty Fifty or a dance tutorial that everyone can easily follow.
While the trend of learning a new dance appears to have shifted from offline to online due to its "fast and mobile" nature, it may not be the case if you want to learn a classical dance like Bharatanatyam, for instance.
After all, it's not just a classical Indian dance with rich cultural elements but it's also a dance with distinctive postures and techniques. Established Bharatanatyam dancers will tell you that it takes hours, weeks, months and even years to perfect the craft of Bharatanatyam.
This is where an experienced Bharatanatyam tutor comes into the picture, especially if you are learning it from scratch and plan to perform it one day.
In this article, we will discuss the various platforms to learn Bharatanatyam for different age groups and learning levels in Malaysia.
How Long Does It Take To Learn Bharatanatyam Completely?
To be honest, there's no straightforward answer to this question because it varies according to person and several other factors.
Some of the factors include:
- Starting age of learning Bharatanatyam
Don't get us wrong. You can certainly learn Bharatanatyam at any age.
Having said that, learning Bharatanatyam as a kid does give you a slight advantage because you will have more time to develop your skills and master the fundamental steps and techniques.
Young kids also tend to be more flexible and adaptable when they are learning new movements and memorising the dance steps.
- Your aptitude for dancing/previous dancing experience
You can still learn Bharatanatyam effectively as an adult. Some of us are natural on stage and some of us are very much in tune in terms of rhythms and coordination. When it comes to dancing, a little talent does help along the way. Natural dancers are more likely to learn faster.
Photo by Chris Yang on Unsplash
- The frequency and intensity of your Bharatanatyam lessons
Of course, the more you practice, the more you'll improve at a faster pace. There's a difference in taking weekly Bharatanatyam lessons as compared to taking lessons every fortnight. Of course, as you advance to a higher learning level, the learning intensity will also differ.
- Your ultimate goal of learning Bharatanatyam
If you are learning Bharatanatyam as a hobby, your learning pathway could be less linear and even shorter as compared to those who are learning Bharatanatyam professionally.
Don't be surprised to learn that some Bharatanatyam major graduates continue to take private lessons from seasoned Bharatanatyam teachers for another few years to refine their skills after completing their Arangetram (graduation performance).
You can start reviewing these basic steps and key techniques of Bharatanatyam.
Finding Bharatanatyam Group Classes For Kids & Adults
If you are a parent of a young kid, you might want to start looking for Bharatanatyam lessons to start them earlier. If you are also interested in learning it together with your child, you can check out places that offer lessons for various age groups.
Here are some examples of places that offer comprehensive Bharatanatyam lessons for both kids and adults.
The Temple of Fine Arts Malaysia
Located at Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, The Temple of Fine Arts offers Bharatanatyam lessons for children aged 6 and above. Students will be given dance theory materials according to their learning levels.
The Bharatanatyam syllabus at The Temple of Fine Arts consists of 6 stages, incorporating both theory and practical elements during the lessons. Students will also go through assessments before advancing to the next stage.
Sutra Academy (Sutra Foundation)
Founded by one of the most established classical dancer in Malaysia, Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, Sutra Academy offers extensive lessons for Bharatanatyam, Oddisi and even ballet.
Apart from regular lessons, the Sutra Academy also conducts dance workshops and outreach for the general public.
It is located at Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur.
Shringara School of Dance
If you are looking for a one-stop dancing school that offers physical, online, group and one-to-one lessons, you should consider enrolling here.
Founded by Miss Preethi R. Nair, students above the age of five and adults are welcomed to take Bharatanatyam lessons here.
The physical classes are usually conducted at Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya.
Don't miss these resources and tips to master Bharatanatyam.
Taking Personalised & Flexible Bharatanatyam One-To-One Lessons On Superprof
Prefer to do your own research to look for the perfect Bharatanatyam tutor?
We got you covered!
All you need to do is visit the homepage of Superprof Malaysia and start browsing through the information that is listed at the tutors' profiles.
Superprof Malaysia is your go-to tutoring platform when it comes to looking for a home tutor near your city as well as flexible and interactive online lessons.
Apart from Bharatanatyam, Superprof also offers a wide range of subjects, from academic subjects to musical instruments to sports activities.
You can refine your search activity through the right filters:
- Location
- Learning mode
- Learning level
- Medium of instruction (most of our tutors are bilingual)
- Maximum budget for hourly rates
For home tutors, it's important to check the distance that they are willing to travel (in terms of km, region) as well as the fees that come along with it.
Image by prostooleh on Freepik
From there, you can compare and review the tutors' profiles before contacting your desired Bharatanatyam tutor. You can communicate with them via the messaging feature on their profile.
Savvy tip: You can check if the tutors offer their first lesson for free. Don't miss out on this great opportunity!
Find out more about the advantages of learning Bharatanatyam.
How Should You Prepare For Your First Bharatanatyam Lesson?
After finalising the discussion with your Superprof tutor, you would probably start thinking about the next step to take.
Here are some tips to help you prepare for your first Bharatanatyam lesson.
Tip 1: Make sure you get the right attire (neat, comfortable and appropriate)
Be sure to confirm the right attire to wear with your tutor, whether it's a saree or kurta.
Make sure the clothing that you wear during the lessons is loose and comfortable so that you can execute the movements smoothly.
Image by Freepik
Tip 2: Respect the culture and tradition behind the dance
You can read about the history of Bharatanatyam and the cultural significance of this performing art among the Indian community.
Having an overview of the cultural and traditional context of this dance will help you develop a better understanding and appreciation of the dance while you are learning.
Tip 3: Watch some tutorials to familiarise yourself with some basic steps
First lessons are usually not heavy and intense. Most tutors will have some ice-breaking sessions before going straight to the lesson.
Most of the time, the student and the tutor will introduce themselves, and then the tutor will also go through how the classes will be conducted (the flow) and the basic steps of Bharatanatyam.
If you want to immerse yourself faster while learning, you can do a bit of research on the basic steps by watching YouTube tutorials or even talking to an acquaintance about their experience to loosen yourself a little bit.
That way, you are able to enjoy the entire learning process from the beginning till the end.
You can learn a lot by reading and watching the experiences of these Malaysian Bharatanatyam dancers.
Where Can You Study Bharatanatyam For Your Diploma And Undergraduate Studies In Malaysia?
Do you know that you can major in Bharatanatyam and be a professional Bharatanatyam dancer in Malaysia?
Many dance enthusiasts in Malaysia choose the National Academy of Arts and Culture (known as ASWARA) to pursue a Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Dance.
At the Diploma level, students are required to learn about the theory of performance, the history of dance, the anatomy components and potential injuries of dance.
The types of dances that are offered include:
Malay Dance
- Classical dance like Asyik, Layang Mas, Joget Gamelan and Terinai
- Folk dance like Asli, Inang, Joget, Zapin, Tari Inai and Tari Piring
Chinese Dance
- Fan dance
- Handkerchief dance
- Jasmine flower dance
- Fish dance
Indian Dance
- Classic Bharatanatyam dance
Dance (Sarawak and Sabah)
- Daling-daling dance
- Sazau Papar dance
- Datun Julud dance
- Orang Ulu dance
Under the dance undergraduate program (performance major/ choreography major) at ASWARA, students can choose one of the dances that is listed above as their performance module or choose to take one choreography module.
The duration for the Bachelor of Dance and the Diploma of Dance is 3 years respectively (a total of 6 semesters).
The total fee for the Diploma of Dance is RM 5,529.00 while the total fee for the Bachelor of Dance is RM 7,029.00.
It's also important to note that apart from the entry requirement (for SPM), applicants also need to pass the interview or audition by ASWARA before official admission.
Granted that there are many platforms where you can learn Bharatanatyam from a beginner up to an advanced level, you should certainly make the best out of these offline and online resources to be a good Bharatanatyam dancer.
Who knows, maybe it'll soon be your turn to upload a video of yourself dancing to Bharatanatyam.
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