Classes

sADHANA DANCE ACADEMY

"Sadhana" in Sanskrit means intense, disciplined practice towards a designated goal. Dance is as individual a journey as each one of us is. The Sadhana Dance Academy is founded on the principles of personalized instruction for the serious student who aspires to excel in Bharathanatyam.

Savitha's students distinguish themselves by being eager to come to class, practicing, and challenging themselves to reach higher levels of performance. The class culture, student and parent attitudes reflect this dedication and effort on a continuous basis.

Before enrolling to be a Sadhana student, students are evaluated for their commitment and enthusiasm. It is recommended that Sadhana students limit their extra-curricular activities to allow an hour of practice every day. All students will learn yoga concurrently to support their dancing. Students who transfer from other schools will begin their training with a refresher course in their basic steps (adavus). Students will be expected to reach a minimum standard and level before giving public performances. Prospective students and families are strongly encouraged to preview a class and attend a Sadhana performance before enrolling.

Dance Classes are conducted privately or semi-privately (maximum of 2-3 students) with emphasis on body alignment and developing an awareness of the Indian ethos and culture. After the first few years of learning, students will be expected to attend classes twice/thrice a week. Students will learn to assess their own progress and develop a deeper understanding of their connections with movement and form. Classes include instruction in all technical aspects of Bharatanatyam from the beginner level. These include pure dance – Nrtta, expressive dance – Abhinaya, rhythm cycles and construction using vocal rendition and cymbals (Nattuvangam), and theory. Students are encouraged to practice speaking an Indian language to gain insights into the cultural nuances of body and facial gestures. Workshops in focused areas will be organized periodically and taught by Master teachers.

Commitment to regular practice and a quest for perfection are the keystones of students enrolled in Sadhana. This Academy is not for the casual hobbyist or student who is already involved with several activities and cannot make Bharatanatyam a priority. Sadhana students are required to work towards a solo debut (Arangetram)/performance in order to fully explore and savor the complexity and beauty of this art form. There is no mandate for how and where the solo debut/performance is performed (temple/theater).

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PRospective students:

Due to travel constraints and performance schedules, Savitha is offering short term classes and workshops on a select, intensive basis during this coming year to students in San Jose, California and New Delhi, India. Regular classes have been suspended for the interim. Students who have specific needs for improvement in dance technique and performance will benefit from these workshops. Students can adapt these techniques to their own style while making significant improvements in their performance. Internet (skype) based learning may be a viable option under certain circumstances. (savitha@savithasastry.com)

The journey (more or less)

Minimum Starting Age - 7 years

Years 1 and 2 - Yoga, Body alignment and Strengthening exercises, Adavus, Basic Abhinaya technique, Theory, Taalam/ rhythm cycle foundation.

Years 3 and 4 - Introductory and small performance pieces with continuing emphasis on elements from the first years.

Years 5 and 6 - Building of performance repertoire with larger, more substantive pieces with higher degrees of complexity in Nrtta and Abhinaya. Public performances of simple pieces can usually commence now.

Years 6 through 9 - Arangetram preperatory years; class frequency increases to twice/thrice a week. Students attend classes daily for 3-4 hours during the summer preceeding their Arangetram.

Students who transfer from other schools:
- Evaluation and placement at proper level after refresher course in Adavus and correction of body alignments.