Pre-India Jitters.

So....I am nearing the final arrangements for my trip to India and I am getting very excited/nervous about some of my plans. My departure date is scheduled to be October 19th and I will be staying in India through the end of the year and returning to Minneapolis in late January. 

During my 3 month trip I have quite a few things planned. 

1. I will be doing a very intensive private study in Indian classical dance.
2. I will go to Delhi for my buddy Nishant's BIG FAT Punjabi wedding. A super-insane party with some of the coolest people I know and some I don't. 

3. I will be training and testing for an Ashtanga Yoga Certification and Ayurvedic diet and health.

4. Most importantly I will be spending time with my Father-in Law and extended Indian family being fed and spoiled in their hospitality. Something that I am excited for as it is rare that I get to see them.

I will be staying in Thrissur, Kerala. Kerala is one of the southern most states of India. It's known as "Gods Own Country" as it is a veritable paradise complete with coconut trees, mango trees, exotic flowers and fruits. The climate is hot and sticky and the people are kind. I will be staying with my Father-in-Law and extended family through the end of November, and to make good use of my time in India (as I have mentioned) I will be taking private Bharatanatyam lessons. 

Searching for a good teacher in Thrissur was a long process. Finding a school that was open to teaching a non Indian student was difficult. Many of the teachers in this art form have limited experience teaching Westerners and the language barrier could be an issue as well. Additionally, this art form is not something traditionally started in adulthood. Most dancers start this study at 5. I sought out the the help and advice of my current Guru (teacher), Narayanee, and my Indian family to find the perfect teacher. I am happy to have finally secured lessons from a great teacher and arranged a complete course of study that will start on October 21st. 

I will be studying with Aparna B. Marar of the Kalabharati School. 

http://aparnamarar.com/

Aparna is an accomplished dancer and teacher in Thrissur. She is the director of the Kalabharathi Cultural Heritage Foundation.  Her training is in Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, and Bharatanatyam, and she is a teacher and professional dancer in all three of those art forms.  Additionally, she is a Carnatic singer and musician. I am blessed to be studying with her for an entire month, seven days a week, for 2 hours daily.  She has composed a detailed curriculum and schedule for me with input from my current teacher. I will be required to complete the established curriculum and will do my best to complete it in the time allowed.  For those familiar with the art form the following items are what I am slated to complete while under her study:

• Mudras (asamyukta hastas, samayukta hastas, and viniyogas) – that is all single and double hand gestures and well as their applications.
• Adavus – this is all the basic foot patterns and combo steps.
• Alarippu – this is traditionally the dancer’s first piece and it is strictly punctuation of tala (beats) and technical aspects of the dance.
• Padam – this is a dance piece that is usually pertaining to love in many forms.

Bharatanatyam looks like this...

Many of you may not be aware of my intense interest in classical Indian dance. I have been dancing over the last two years actively in many other styles. I have danced in many Bollywood events but always had a yearning to learn some of the older forms of dance that inspire Bollywood and modern Indian dance. I started taking formal classical Indian dance lessons last February. I started with a local  Mohiniyattam teacher. Mohiniyattam, is one of the seven classical dance styles of India, this one being associated to the state Kerala. Mohiniyattam is a "sister" to Bharatanatyam, and share similar foot patterns and gestures. However, after a short stint in that study I found it easier to explore Bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam dance It is the "mother" form of Mohiniyattam and other South Indian dance forms, it is considered the dance of fire and born directly from Lord Shiva. Bharatanatyam is practiced and performed all over India, but its concentration and origins come from the south-eastern portion of the country in the state of Tamil Nadu. Bharatanatyam dance is characteristically known for its sharp, angular movements, complicated beat counts, and complex foot work. Many of the classical Indian dance forms are narrative,  that is,they involve the dancer to relay a story. The stories are often religious and in Bharatanatyam they are all related to the Puranas - Hindu mythology. Story telling is expressed through complicated hand gestures (mudra) and a series of choreographed facial expressions (navarasa). The final product is a syncopated, fast paced dance supported by an emotional and dramatic pantomime. A gorgeous display.

Narayanee with her Guru Dr. Padma Subramanyam.

I have been studying diligently with my current Guru (teacher), Narayanee, since March. I am so inspired by her talent and gracious teaching style. She is a very accomplished dancer, a disciple of Dr.Padma Subramanyam, and a former member of Dr. Subramanayam’s prestigious dance troupe. Narayanee is a celebrated international dance soloist, and an accomplished teacher of the Nrithyodya School of Chennai. She is currently the creative director of the Nrityavidyalaya - Bharatanatyam Dance School, her own school in Minnesota.  With the blessings of my Guru, I am following my feet and my heart. I am so excited to continue my learning with Aparna. I sincerely hope my body is ready for the intensive course of dance she has planned.  Tiger balm will be on hand.

Thanks for reading.
Namaste