Dance · Dossier № 14

Provenance· Tamil Nadu, India · ~2000 years

Bharathanatyam

Classical Tamil dance.

Book a free trial

At a glance

Session: 45–60 min per session
Levels: 3 stages
Age: 5 +
Format: 1-on-1 / Group

Enroll / Request callback

Your Mentor

Guided by working practitioners.

Bharathanatyam Mentor

Arjun Krishnan Nair

10+ years teachingProfessional dancerDance culture

A professional Dancer and graduate of RLV Music College, India, with a BA in Bharathanatyam, trained in traditional Dance techniques and dedicated to developing strong Dance culture, Dance expression, and performance skills in every student.

When You Can Come

Weekly rhythm.

Tuesday
4:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Thursday
4:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Only active days shown. Slots confirmed at your free trial.

The Path

A clear, staged journey.

- Araimandi, muzhumandi and posture conditioning
- Tattadavu, Nattadavu and Visharu adavus
- Asamyukta and Samyukta hasta vinyoga
- Pushpanjali and a simple Alarippu

Inside a Class

A day in the studio.

Live studio footage

What you'll learn

Adavus & nritta basics
Hand mudras & expressions
Jathis, Alarippu, Jathiswaram
Varnam & padams

Outcomes

Master all ten adavu families with correct araimandi, hasta and bhramari
Perform a complete short margam: Pushpanjali, Alarippu and Jathiswaram
Build expressive abhinaya through navarasa training and padam practice
Understand Carnatic tala, sollukattu and the structure of a varnam
Prepare confidently for sabha performances, festival shows and arangetram

Gallery

Bharathanatyam at GADD9.

FAQ

Things students ask.

What costume and items do I need to start?

For the first months you only need a comfortable salwar or practice saree and bare feet. Salangai (anklets), practice saree and stage costume come in later stages — your guru will guide you on each at the right time.

Is this the right age to begin?

Five is the traditional starting age, but we have happily trained beginners well into their 30s and 40s. The body adapts to the discipline at any age when the practice is consistent.

How long does it take to reach arangetram?

On average 7–10 years of dedicated learning, depending on the student's age, practice and natural pace. Arangetram is offered only when the guru feels the student is genuinely ready.

Do you follow a specific bani?

Our senior gurus are trained in the Kalakshetra and Pandanallur banis. The teaching is traditional, with adavus and margam pieces from both schools.

Will there be performance opportunities before arangetram?

Yes — annual GADD9 dance showcase, sabha invitations, temple utsavams and inter-school festivals. Performance experience is built into the journey, not saved for the end.

Enroll

Request a callback.

The Story

Where Bharathanatyam comes from — and where it lives now.

Bharathanatyam at GADD9 is taught the way it was meant to be learnt — slowly, devotionally, and with deep respect for the parampara. Our gurus trace their lineage to the Kalakshetra and Pandanallur traditions, and the discipline shows: clean araimandi, precise adavus, expressive abhinaya, and a margam that builds toward arangetram with patience.

Bharathanatyam is one of India's oldest classical dance forms, with roots in the 2000-year-old Natyashastra of Bharata Muni and centuries of temple dance (sadir) practised by the devadasi community in the temples of Tamil Nadu.

Origin TimelineTamil Nadu, India · ~2000 years

Milestone 1 / 4

More Dance

You might also like.

Ready to start?