Whenever a new year or a new month begins, we often hear people talking about their desire to learn something new.
Here are some of the common phrases you probably be familiar with:
- "I want to come out from my comfort zone"
- "I can't wait to discover something new about myself"
- "What should I learn when there are so many options these days?"
Maybe you are thinking of learning a new language or a new sport.
Do you know that you can enjoy the best of both worlds by learning a new dance?
Famous American dancer, Martha Graham once said, "Dance is the hidden language of the soul"
Canadian actress, Neve Campell also said this," Dance is certainly a sport, and there are phenomenal athletes, and they're also artists."
Having said that, you might want to consider taking up a dance that's rich in culture and health benefits like Bharatanatyam.
Fret not if you have no idea where to start.
In this article, we will look at various strategies and tips to learn Bharatanatyam consistently.
Tip 1: Do A Research On The Cultural Background Of The Dance
It helps to have an overview of Bharatanatyam through a cultural lens if you are learning it as an absolute beginner.
Firstly, you can read up on the history of Bharatanatyam in terms of its origin or religious significance.
There are many Bharatanatyam compositions that are adapted from Sanskrit mythologies such as Mahabharata and Ramayana. In fact, Bharatanatyam dancers often portray the main characters in these mythologies.
Apart from that, you can also check out the costumes as well as jewellery that you will be wearing when you are performing the dance. Female performers, usually wear sarees while male performers usually wear a veshti or dhoti.
In terms of musicality and rhythms, the Bharatanatyam dance is usually accompanied by Carnatic music. Furthermore, you will be able to see a good mixture of classical Indian musical instruments and Western musical instruments such as the following:
- Veena (a string instrument that's similar to a sitar)
- Nadaswaram (a long type of oboe that's made from wood)
- Nattuvangam (cymbals)
- Mridangam (double-sided drum)
- Flute
- Oboe
- Violin
Photo by Michael Myers on Unsplash
If you are a fan of shining and glimmering accessories, you can probably start shopping for the right earrings, necklaces and even anklets to stand out during your performance.
Find out how you can benefit from learning Bharatanatyam from multiple angles in the long run.
Tip 2: Take Basic Lessons From A Reliable Tutor To Master The Key Steps
After gaining some theoretical knowledge of Bharatanatyam, it's now time to put what you have learned into real action!
From mastering the fundamental steps, and hand gestures (mudras) to having the right facial expression at the right time, you definitely need to learn from an experienced Bharatanatyam instructor.
Depending on your preferences, you can opt for group lessons, one-to-one lessons or even online lessons.
If you are looking for a flexible and personalised Bharatanatyam learning experience, it's best to find a tutor through a reliable platform like Superprof Malaysia!
At Superprof, you can learn Bharatanatyam from tutors who come from different locations, different backgrounds and of course, different performing/teaching experiences.
Through the tutors' profiles, you can read about their personal Bharatanatyam learning experience too.
For instance, some of the tutors will even list down details like their starting age when they learned the dance, their Bharatanatyam dance instructor, the places where they have performed over the years etc.
You can also check their teaching syllabus, teaching methodology, duration of their lessons, teaching levels as well as teaching rates for different age groups.
For instance, adult lessons are typically more expensive as compared to kids' lessons. The hourly rate for a dance student who is preparing for their Arangetram performance (graduation) will also be higher as compared to an absolute newbie.
Online lessons are also generally more affordable in the long run because you get to save on transportation and other administration fees.
So all these key elements play a big role in helping you to choose the right Bharatanatyam tutor.
It's important to build a strong foundation and master the key knowledge of Bharatanatyam with an experienced tutor.
Once you have reviewed them, you can proceed to connect with your desired Superprof tutor and start discussing your future lesson arrangements via messaging.
Tip 3: Engage In Fitness Activities Regularly To Improve Your Stamina
Once you have begun your first Bharatanatyam lesson, you probably notice that it's not a bed of roses.
As the intensity of your movements and dancing duration increases, it's really a stamina game. You need continuous stamina to sustain your energy and also build endurance as you are performing.
Remember our quote about dancing being a sport during the introduction?
Here are some fitness activities that you can do on a regular basis to equip you to be a good Bharatanatyam dancer.
- Hitting the gym for strength training
As Bharatanatyam requires the dancers to move their hands and legs in a flexible manner, it's important to enhance your core strength for your legs and hands as well as upper body strength.
- Stretching exercises
It helps to loosen up your muscles to be at their best state when you performing big movements on stage. It helps you to be more flexible in the long run.
- Cardiovascular exercises
When done consistently, cardiovascular exercises help you boost your respiratory system, circulatory system and even your overall metabolism.
Generally speaking, any form of exercise that increases your heartbeat while performing repeated actions is good cardiovascular exercise. Depending on your interest, you could try out running, cycling, swimming, rope-skipping and others.
Important note: Remember to rest and recover after your workouts because without letting your body rest, your previous efforts will go in vain.
Take your time to understand and practice the basic steps of Bharatanatyam before you advance to a higher learning level.
Photo by David Dvořáček on Unsplash
Tip 4: Watch Various Performances Online & Offline
Another way to have an immersive Bharatanatyam learning experience is to watch a diverse range of performances, whether it's online or offline.
When it comes to physical Bharatanatyam performances, you can easily check them out at various locations such as the Temple of Fine Arts in Kuala Lumpur, Akademi Seni Budaya Dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA), and Istana Budaya.
You'll be surprised that many of these Bharatanatyam performances (especially Arangetram) offer free entry to the audience.
You can also visit the websites of local performing arts centres like the Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) and Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) to check if any Bharatanatyam performances are slotted for each month or quarter of the year.
Watching a live performance serves as a great reminder of the beauty of this dance and also encourages you to persevere to master this craft.
Of course, you can also go on YouTube to watch various recordings and even tutorials of Bharatanatyam performances.
Watching online performances allows you to pause and reflect on the steps and examine your strengths and weaknesses as a performer. Not only that, you can also watch it for free and watch it anywhere and anytime over and over again.
Learning Bharatanatyam can be flexible and dynamic as you can learn it in various settings and locations.
Who knows, you might be also inspired to record yourself and compare the differences between the tutorials and your own dancing and improve faster. Most of the time, we can't really tell what's happening on stage as we are performing.
So the recording serves as an extra pair of eyes to see if you are on the right track. Furthermore, you can also send it to your Bharatanatyam tutor to receive some feedback on your performance.
Tip 5: Put Everything Into Practice Consistently & Patiently
We have covered the theoretical and practical aspects of learning Bharatanatyam.
The circle of learning can only be completed through consistent practice. Your instructor and fellow experienced dancers will tell you the same thing: There's simply no shortcut to being a good dancer.
Of course, every dancer will have a different learning path, but the core idea remains unchangeable.
To practice consistently means you have to not only make sure your physical state is at its peak condition but also mentally. Mastering a dance like Bharatanatyam requires one to have great concentration and a positive mindset.
That's because it requires you to remember lots of steps and even one single hand gesture (mudras) can take you hours or days to get it right.
Photo by Saksham Gangwar on Unsplash
You have to believe in yourself that you will improve and you need to stay focused on the end goal. When the going gets tough, you have to pick yourself up to go on without giving up.
Make time to practice before your actual lessons and do not go for the lessons for the sake of going. Pour out your heart and soul during every session.
Whenever you feel like giving up, you can read more about the experiences of these amazing Malaysian Bharatanatyam performers.
There you have it. Five resources to take your Bharatanatyam skill to the next level. All the best in this journey!
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