Body Posture
The importance of posture training in dance lessons In my many years of teaching experience I’ve seen time and again that students tense up in… Read More »Body Posture
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Disclaimer:
Although dance is rather associated with female and not male dancers, I use in my blogs both sexes free of any ulterior motive and at my discretion.
Since this blog is meant to be accessible to anyone who is interested in it, I don’t use diacritical typing for Indian terms. Unless otherwise noted I use the English spelling for all of the specific terms.
© Copyright: All pictures and videos shown in this blog are the property of the author, unless otherwise stated. The re-use of the text or parts of it requires the explicit author’s approval.
Breathing in Bharata Natyam
Why is breathing relevant? There are some aspects in dance that the student has to get to know and integrate into the training from the… Read More »Breathing in Bharata Natyam
What is Bharata Natyam?
In its present form, Bharata Natyam can’t be clearly assigned to known categories such as “ritual dance” or “secular dance” (LIECHTENHAN 2000:9) because, ideologically, it… Read More »What is Bharata Natyam?
Teaching tradition or traditional teaching?
The area of conflict of the modern Bharata Natyam dancer This blog is a revised excerpt from: Bansal-Tönz, Scharmila: Examinations of the songs of Purandaradāsa… Read More »Teaching tradition or traditional teaching?
In memory of B.K. Chandramouli
On 20 July 2018, one of the great Mridangam artists of classical South Indian music died. B. K. Chandramouli was a member of a great… Read More »In memory of B.K. Chandramouli
Dancing for the brain
“Good for body and mind” is a common slogan that you read on flyers or posters advertising dance classes. But there is more to this… Read More »Dancing for the brain
Expressiveness in Bharata Natyam
Ideal Nritta training How we use our body in dance is a topic which occupies my thoughts on and off. Especially in recent times, in… Read More »Expressiveness in Bharata Natyam
The joy of dancing
A few months ago, I saw the movie “Dancer” about the young ballet dancer Sergei Polunin. The film touched me deeply. I was on the… Read More »The joy of dancing
Hollow back
The tendency of hyper lordosis in Bharata Natyam basic posture A dancer can often be recognized in his or her daily life attitude. Trained dancers… Read More »Hollow back
Children’s Dance Education and Bharata Natyam
The dangerous game with fire The way in which Bharata Natyam is taught in dance schools is sometimes a mystery to me. With the pretext… Read More »Children’s Dance Education and Bharata Natyam
A question of style
Thoughts on the rootedness of Bharata Natyam outside India The current globalization and multimedia networking of art and artists challenges all the participants greatly, though… Read More »A question of style
Dance medicine and Bharata Natyam
There are certain deficiencies in the ways we teach and practise Bharata Natyam, which we need to address. A highly relevant one is how we… Read More »Dance medicine and Bharata Natyam
My new blog
I’m extremely excited to finally starting my own blog and connecting here two of my most favourite activities: writing and Indian classical dance Bharata Natyam.… Read More »My new blog