Dance School: Day Five

Today I completed my fifth day of Bharatanatyam dance school. I feel really good about what I have so far accomplished. My thighs are getting stronger and now I can move from half sitting posture to full sitting with ease. I feel strong I still have some aches, but these are good aches.

I am getting very well acquainted with my Guru, Aparna. She is a very ambitious young woman. At her very tender age of 24 she is a touring dancer with awards, a co-creator/director of a cultural heritage foundation, a small business owner, and mother to a one year old. She has an amazing amount of energy. In fact, her energy inspires me to push hard. She believes in hard work and practice and has quite a bit to teach me about letting go of ego and learning. She is a gracious teacher, a patient teacher, a bit of a perfectionist, and someone who believes in my talent. I now have two such great teachers. One in India, and one back home. I owe these ladies my hard work. A humble thank you to both of them.

 

Below are some pics of the Kalabharathi foundation's office and school. It is a nice location with a number of rehearsal spaces for musicians and dancers. The lower offices are always filled with staff, mostly young people who work at the foundation. Many of them are dancers and musicians. They are sweet to me when I arrive each morning. Rather shy, only one or two have been brave enough to come chat with me. This space has a large outdoor dance area, audience area, and stage. It is out of use as it once had a roof, but a downed tree required the roof to be taken down. Now there is a large apartment/condo building being built behind the foundation, so it is too loud to use the space until construction is finished.

  

Here is my practice room. Unlike western dance studios Indian dance is usually the Guru and the student(s), no mirrors, no barre. Always an alter to Lord Shiva and just the essential needs. Usually the teacher sits at the front on the mat and marks the tala and speaks the chollu. (That is musically and vocally establishes my beat, rhythm, and speed to dance to.) This is the room I practice in for 2 hours daily every morning. It is becoming like a second home. 

Dance Room - This is where I practice and learn every day.

                   

On November 10, 11, and 12 I will be accompanying my teacher, Aparna to this dance and music festival. It is something her organization is co-producing and will feature talent from around India. She is excited to have me meet the dancers and spend a few days seeing all the dance formats and meeting people. What a great opportunity. I am very excited.

  In addition to that Aparna will take me shopping Saturday. Bharatanatyam shopping!! I am to be fitted for my very first Bharatanatyam costume. I squealed a little when she told me this. "What colors will you pick?" She will show me a few styles today so I know a little more about the choices I have. But basically, she says, you buy a saree then pay the stitching fee. WOW! I am over the moon. Dancers love their costumes....FACT. And this dancer, seriously loves costumes. We will get all the accessories from head to toe. How absolutely exciting. 


Namaste,
Christy