Divine Dancing

Divine Dancing

Divine Dancing Certification Course

Divine Dancing Certification Course, a spiritual and transformative exploration of dance as a medium for divine connection and expression. This course combines the artistry of dance with spiritual principles, aiming to deepen one’s connection to the self, others, and the divine. Students will immerse themselves in various dance forms, spiritual philosophies, and mindfulness practices to foster a holistic understanding of the power of movement and expression.

HDB - Divine dance in Bharata Natyam style Fees: $99 (INR 10,000 for Indian Students)

Overview: This course focuses on Bharata Natyam, a classical dance form originating from South India. It aims to provide comprehensive training in the technical aspects, aesthetics, and cultural significance of Bharata Natyam.

Content:

• Detailed training in Bharata Natyam techniques, including adavus, hand gestures (mudras), and abhinaya (expressive elements).
• Understanding the cultural context and history of Bharata Natyam as a South Indian classical dance form.
• Exploring music, rhythm, and choreography in Bharata Natyam performances.

Activities:

• Practical sessions for mastering technical elements and sequences in Bharata Natyam.
• Discussions and presentations on the cultural and historical aspects of the dance form.

Bharatanatyam Certification Fees: $15

Overview: The Bharatanatyam Certification is awarded upon successful completion of the Divine Dancing Certification Course, particularly focusing on mastering Bharata Natyam techniques, understanding its cultural nuances, and demonstrating proficiency in performing the dance form.

Requirements:

• Mastery of technical elements, including adavus, mudras, and abhinaya.
• Demonstration of choreography and performance skills in Bharata Natyam.
• Understanding of the cultural context and history of Bharata Natyam.

Divine Dancing

This is a special program for those who have trained in traditional Indian dancing for many years under the tutelage of a guru or at a dancing school. The program provides an opportunity to obtain credits for this training after evaluation of previous training. Those who already have done Arangetram would be required to take only three additional courses at IHU in order to be eligible for a diploma from IHU. The three core courses are designed to provide practical experience in either a temple or university setting. The students will teach in the chosen setting and also learn to choreograph dances suitable to their students’ cultural background. Bharatanatyam, the classical dance of Tamil Nadu in South India is one of the most ancient and highly developed forms of stylized dance. Surviving over a period of about two thousand years, the original style underwent numerous changes and acquired a variety of connotations: aesthetic, religious, occult with differences in emphasis upon one or the other during different periods of its long history. Today this dance style is no longer confined to the region of its origin but is practiced and performed by dancers of most other parts of the country. However, the essentially regional flavor is still retained in its association with the distinctive music, language, poetry and local cultural overtones of South India.The learning path of the student is designed to include several elements that go into the making of a professional classical dancer. These are: body conditioning exercises, physical technique of dance steps and movements, narrative technique of mime to tell a story, interpret poetry, portray dramatic roles and characters through the language of dance; teaching of dance repertoire— traditional and contemporary; music of dance including singing, complex rhythms andoral recitation of drum mnemonics.

HDB 5001: The Basics Of Bharatanatyam (3 Credits) Fees: $299 (INR 10,000 for Indian Students)

Overview: This course lays the foundation by focusing on the fundamental elements of Bharatanatyam, including postures, hand gestures (mudras), and basic footwork (adavus).

Content:

• Practical sessions on body conditioning and warm-up exercises specific to Bharatanatyam.
• Learning the basic adavus (steps) and their variations.
• Introduction to the aesthetic and cultural significance of Bharatanatyam.

Activities:

• Demonstration and practice of basic adavus and mudras.
• Understanding the historical and cultural context of Bharatanatyam.

HDB 5002: Introduction to Nrityakala (3 Credits) Fees: $299 (INR 10,000 for Indian Students)

Overview: This course provides an introduction to Nrityakala, exploring the expressive aspects of Bharatanatyam beyond the technical aspects. It covers emotions, storytelling through dance, and emotive expressions (abhinaya).

Content:

• Understanding the emotive expressions through hand gestures and facial expressions.
• Techniques for portraying emotions, storytelling, and conveying narratives.
• Exploring different styles of choreography and dance compositions.

Activities:

• Practicing abhinaya (expressive dance) and storytelling through selected pieces.
• Creating short choreographies to convey emotions and narratives.

HDB 5003: Natyarambham (3 Credits) Fees: $299 (INR 10,000 for Indian Students)

Overview: This course marks the initiation into the narrative technique of Bharatanatyam, focusing on mime, dramatic roles, and characters portrayed through the language of dance.

Content:

• Techniques for mime to portray characters, roles, and stories.
• Understanding the art of narrative dance to convey themes and messages.
• Practical sessions on portraying dramatic roles through dance.

Activities:

• Mimicry and enactment of characters through gestures and expressions.
• Group performances portraying stories or themes through dance narratives.

HDB 5004: Nritta (3 Credits) Fees: $299 (INR 10,000 for Indian Students)

Overview: This course concentrates on the technical aspects of pure dance (nritta) in Bharatanatyam, emphasizing rhythmic footwork, movements, and patterns.

Content:

• Advanced training in rhythmic footwork, complex movements, and patterns.
• Understanding tala (rhythm) and intricate rhythmic sequences.
• Practicing precision and agility in executing complex dance sequences.

Activities:

• Mastering complex rhythmic sequences and patterns.
• Group performances showcasing technical prowess in nritta.

HDB 5005: Nrittya (3 Credits) Fees: $299 (INR 10,000 for Indian Students)

Overview: This course focuses on the expressive and interpretative aspects of Bharatanatyam, combining the technical aspects of nritta with emotive expressions (abhinaya).

Content:

• Integrating abhinaya (expressive dance) with technical dance movements.
• Exploring diverse themes and emotions through choreographed sequences.
• Techniques for conveying intricate emotions and expressions through dance.

Activities:

• Choreographing and performing pieces that combine technical precision with emotive expressions.
• Interpretative performances highlighting various themes through dance.

HDB 5006: Natya (3 Credits) Fees: $299 (INR 10,000 for Indian Students)

Overview: This course delves deeper into the theatrical aspects of Bharatanatyam, emphasizing dramatic aspects, storytelling, and role-playing in dance.

Content:

• Understanding the elements of dramatic storytelling in Bharatanatyam.
• Techniques for portraying various characters and roles.
• Exploring different styles of choreographing dramatic sequences.

Activities:

• Performances showcasing theatricality and storytelling through dance.
• Practical sessions in choreographing and performing dramatic pieces.

HDB 5007: Arangetram (3 Credits) Fees: $299 (INR 10,000 for Indian Students)

Overview: This course serves as a culmination of training, preparing participants for Arangetram, the debut performance after completion of foundational training.

Content:

• Intensive preparation for a solo Bharatanatyam performance.
• Refinement of technical skills, expressions, and choreography for the debut performance.
• Practical guidance and rehearsals for a successful Arangetram.

Activities:

• Solo performances in the traditional format of Arangetram.
• Comprehensive evaluations and feedback for further refinement.

HDB 5008: Bharata Natyam South Indian Classical Dance (3 Credits) Fees: $299 (INR 10,000 for Indian Students)

Overview: This course provides a comprehensive understanding of Bharatanatyam, emphasizing its historical, cultural, and regional significance.

Content:

• Historical and cultural context of Bharatanatyam as a South Indian classical dance form.
• Exploration of the dance's evolution, regional nuances, and stylistic variations.
• Discussions on Bharatanatyam's association with music, language, poetry, and local culture.

Activities:

• Research projects exploring the historical and cultural aspects of Bharatanatyam.
• Presentations and discussions on the regional flavors and influences on the dance form.