What is it?
The Bhāratanāṭyam (letteralmente nāṭya, dance-theater and Bhārata, India, therefore Indian dance-theater) is a millenary dance-theater from South India, a moving prayer and meditation that shares a profondo legame con lo Yoga. Its key reading is dance, which includes all the other arts: theater, music, poetry, singing and rhythm.
The profound and refined study of the symbolic gestures of the hands, the expressiveness of the face and body allow us to explore the intimate connection between gesture and poetry. Il Bhāratanāṭyam enfatizza la geometria del corpo, la velocità e la ricchezza ritmica: un susseguirsi di sequenze poetiche e mimate, ricco di significati simbolici, per condurre verso il rasa, the inner state in which external beauty becomes a means of spiritual growth.
Benefits of dance
Promotes your well-being and physical health
Dance makes the body toned and elastic through targeted exercises in full respect of its natural harmony.
Connects you with yourself
Dance allows you to get in touch with your emotions and awaken your strength, harmony and balance.
Creates relationship and connection with others
By sharing classes with other passionate students, dance invites you to make new friendships and connections.
Creates joy and fun to share
Moving your body and connecting with music is a magical moment that awakens a deep sense of joy!
Allows you to find your expressiveness
While studying disciplines with an ancient matrix, dance invites you to find your personal touch and creativity.
F.A.Q.
What do we study?
During the course we will introduce ourselves to this ancient art through the study of its main elements: the basic steps (adavu), the geometry of the body (maṇḍala), the gestures of the hands (mudra), the musical and rhythmic theory (nattuvangam) and the art of expressiveness (abhinaya).
Is it a dance suitable for everyone?
Such an ancient and rich art certainly has many levels of learning, and also different approaches of study. The young student will be motivated by a strong physical preparation, while the older one will be able to approach the theatrical part with more awareness. You will discover that Indian classical dance has many facets, and that beyond the performative aesthetic, which is also its richness, its profound goal is to move our soul through body and poetry.
How does a typical class take place?
The class begins with a warm-up of the whole body, which includes muscle strengthening and stretching. We then move on to the technical part of this dance, tolearn the basic steps structured on the rhythms of Indian classical music. Finally, while seated, the gestures of the hands are studied to convey the myths and poems of India through their expressiveness..
During the year I will propose the study of a traditional choreography, based on the level of the class.
Do we also study music?
Yes, music is an important part of learning this wonderful art! During the lessons you will discover that music, theater and dance are deeply interconnected: each basic step, each poetic line to be interpreted will be accompanied by the study of a rhythm (tala) or a specific melody (raga).
The teacher
Hi!
My name is Barbara, aka Lamia.
I am a dancer and a yoga teacher based in Palermo, specialized in Indian classical dance (Bhāratanāṭyam) and Indian Fusiondance. For more than 15 years I have taught and danced in over 20 countries around the world, sharing my passion for movement arts and accompanying hundreds of students towards the awakening of their own harmony and inner strength.
I believe that the arts of yoga e della danza abbiano il potere di trasformare le nostre vite dall’interno, aiutandoci a riconoscere la bellezza dentro e fuori di noi e ad esplorare la nostra innata saggezza del corpo.
I am happy and excited to share part of my dance journey with you!
Discover the other disciplines
Danza Indian Fusion
A dance style that blends elements of Eastern and Western dances, with an emphasis on the belly, the source of life and deep emotions.
Vinyāsa Yoga
From a millenary tradition, Yoga it is a discipline that involves us in our totality, whose intent is to unite and harmonize body, energy and mind.
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