https://mayuranatyalaya.com/blog/ Articles on Bharatanatyam from Mayura Natyalaya, Porur, Chennai. en-in Thu, 15 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/first-bharatanatyam-class-what-to-expect.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/first-bharatanatyam-class-what-to-expect.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Students & Parents What happens in a first Bharatanatyam class, what to wear and bring, basic class etiquette, how parents can help and what the first month usually feels like. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/right-age-start-bharatanatyam.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/right-age-start-bharatanatyam.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Students & Parents Most children start Bharatanatyam between five and seven, but teens and adults can begin too. Readiness signs, first lessons and questions to ask a teacher. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/bharatanatyam-margam-repertoire-explained.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/bharatanatyam-margam-repertoire-explained.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Music & Repertoire What a Bharatanatyam margam is, the order of items from Alarippu to Thillana and Mangalam, why the varnam is the centrepiece, and how students learn them. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/salangai-pooja-ankle-bells-ceremony.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/salangai-pooja-ankle-bells-ceremony.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Students & Parents What salangai pooja is in Bharatanatyam, when it usually happens, what takes place during the ceremony, and how students care for and respect their ankle bells. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/online-vs-offline-bharatanatyam-classes.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/online-vs-offline-bharatanatyam-classes.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Students & Parents Online or in-person Bharatanatyam classes? Compare the pros and cons, who each suits, how hybrid learning works and how to set up a space for online lessons. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/nattuvangam-conductor-bharatanatyam.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/nattuvangam-conductor-bharatanatyam.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Music & Repertoire What is nattuvangam in Bharatanatyam? The cymbals, reciting jathis, the nattuvanar's role in training and on stage, its history and what students learn from it. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/learning-bharatanatyam-as-adult.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/learning-bharatanatyam-as-adult.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Students & Parents It is not too late to learn Bharatanatyam as an adult. What changes after 18, how to set realistic goals, protect your knees and fit classes around work. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/choose-bharatanatyam-class-chennai.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/choose-bharatanatyam-class-chennai.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Students & Parents A parent's checklist for choosing a Bharatanatyam class in Chennai: the teacher's lineage, batch size, curriculum, arangetram policy, fees and red flags. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/how-long-learn-bharatanatyam.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/how-long-learn-bharatanatyam.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Students & Parents An honest guide to how long Bharatanatyam takes to learn: what the first years cover, typical stages up to arangetram, and what speeds up or slows progress. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/bharatanatyam-vs-other-indian-classical-dances.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/bharatanatyam-vs-other-indian-classical-dances.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 History & Culture How Bharatanatyam differs from Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Kathak and Odissi in region, music, movement and costume, with a comparison table and tips for parents. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/araimandi-posture-safe-practice-home-routine.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/araimandi-posture-safe-practice-home-routine.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Technique How to hold araimandi correctly, the faults that strain knees and back, and a 25-minute Bharatanatyam home practice routine with warm-up and cool-down. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/adavus-bharatanatyam-building-blocks.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/adavus-bharatanatyam-building-blocks.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Technique What is an adavu in Bharatanatyam? The main adavu families, sollukattu, the three speeds, araimandi, the usual teaching order and how adavus build into jathis. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/margazhi-december-season-chennai-dance-guide.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/margazhi-december-season-chennai-dance-guide.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0530 History & Culture A practical guide to Chennai's Margazhi December season for Bharatanatyam students and families: history, finding dance programmes, etiquette and planning. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/understanding-pandanallur-style-bharatanatyam.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/understanding-pandanallur-style-bharatanatyam.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0530 History & Culture The Pandanallur style of Bharatanatyam explained: its village origins and lineage, its hallmarks of geometry and deep araimandi, and what it means for students. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/nine-rasas-bharatanatyam-expressing-emotions.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/nine-rasas-bharatanatyam-expressing-emotions.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Technique What are the nine rasas in Bharatanatyam? Rasa vs bhava, each navarasa with its sthayi bhava, how it is shown, and how students practise abhinaya. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/history-evolution-bharatanatyam-dance.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/history-evolution-bharatanatyam-dance.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0530 History & Culture How Bharatanatyam grew from Tamil temple dance and the Natya Shastra into Sadir, survived the anti-nautch years and was revived as a concert art in the 1930s. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/role-music-rhythm-bharatanatyam.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/role-music-rhythm-bharatanatyam.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Music & Repertoire How Carnatic music shapes Bharatanatyam: raga and tala, common talas and beat counts, sollukattu, the musicians on stage and how students learn to keep tala. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/mudras-bharatanatyam-language-hand-gestures.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/mudras-bharatanatyam-language-hand-gestures.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Technique A guide to Bharatanatyam mudras: the 28 single-hand and 24 double-hand hastas of the Abhinaya Darpana, their uses, how they are taught and common mistakes. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/famous-bharatanatyam-dancers-shaped-art.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/famous-bharatanatyam-dancers-shaped-art.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0530 History & Culture Meet the dancers who shaped modern Bharatanatyam, from T. Balasaraswati, Rukmini Devi Arundale and E. Krishna Iyer to Mrinalini Sarabhai and Alarmel Valli. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/spiritual-connection-dance-devotion-bharatanatyam.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/spiritual-connection-dance-devotion-bharatanatyam.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0530 History & Culture How Bharatanatyam's spiritual roots shape the dance: Nataraja symbolism, temple ritual, bhakti poetry in padams and varnams, and the namaskaram in every class. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/traditional-bharatanatyam-costumes-significance.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/traditional-bharatanatyam-costumes-significance.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0530 History & Culture A guide to the Bharatanatyam costume and jewellery: saree and pyjama styles, temple jewellery names, hair, make-up, alta and salangai, with tips for parents. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/benefits-learning-bharatanatyam-children-adults.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/benefits-learning-bharatanatyam-children-adults.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Students & Parents The physical, mental, expressive, cultural and social benefits of learning Bharatanatyam, and how they differ for children and adults who take up the dance. https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/arangetram-debut-performance-bharatanatyam.html https://mayuranatyalaya.com/posts/arangetram-debut-performance-bharatanatyam.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0530 Students & Parents What a Bharatanatyam arangetram is, when a student is ready, what the performance involves, and a practical preparation timeline for students and parents.