Our weekly beginner class consist of adavus (basic step) and theory practice. On top of this, we will be introducing the talam and how to dance to different talam. Students are encouraged to do weekly practice on their own in addition to taking weekly classes.

I truly believe in a systematic way of training the dancers from building flexibility, strength to building a discipline to practice on their own.

I believe in training the children to start “Eat Bitter". “Eat bitter" means working hard and tolerate some agony in order to acquire what it is one is hoping to achieve. To train little children to eat bitter, I don’t literally mean they have to eat bitter things, it is merely a metaphor to teach them to endure something that is physically unpleasant to achieve because in order to do this dance you have to endure some physical discomfort for example being able to sit in Araimandi for a prolonged period of time in an item. By training the children to “Eat Bitter”, they also develop the mental and physical discipline to accomplish difficult tasks later in life.

“The literal translation is, in fact, “eat bitter” or “eat bitterness”. It comes from the fact that life, or anything, is about good and bad, ups and downs, sweet or bitter., etc. When something is the opposite of positive, in this sense, it is a hardship. Without hardship, i.e., bitterness, there can be no sweetness.”

In the weekly course, there is also additional training on Talam, how to tap to talam, how to work with calculations in an item. How to recite in Sorkattu along with talam. When students are 10 years or older, they can start working with Nattuvangam.

Periodical training or workshops on sanskrit, literature and music will be organized once students reach a proficient level with both Nritta and Abhinaya.

Once the cycle has been completed, the student, in agreement with the teachers, and based on the specific situation (age, interests, studies carried out) will evaluate which path to take. You can continue your journey in India at twinned schools and institutes or prepare and present your own Arangetram (debut) either in India or in the US by inviting musicians from India, you can undertake teacher training, or you can continue your studies embracing a personalized path as a dancer.

Study trips to India and internships in the US with Indian masters are periodically organized twice a year, as well as Sanskrit language courses for dancers, music classes, nattuvangam, abhinaya and thematic conferences.