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Nrityamala Dance Academy was established in 1984 by Uma, and is renowned for imparting the best art education in Dance Theory & Practice, Short & Long term Performance Studies, Yoga, Costume & Stage Craft, Choreography, Nattuvangam, Research Methodology, and Teaching Methodology by providing well rounded training in Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Folk, Contemporary, and Temple dance forms.
Furthermore Nrityamala is committed to bringing awareness towards the richness of Indian culture through Dance at a global level. Dance has no language and thus, it creates opportunities to exchange & enhance the ideas between various ethnic groups & diverse audiences.
The students of Nrityamala Dance Academy not only receive personalized attention from instructors regarding the specified curriculum, but are also taught to appreciate the art of Indian Classical Dance and share it with their community. Alumni from the NDA institution go on to become established dancers following the Nrityamala philosophy, and have excelled as Teachers, Choreographers, Scholars, and as figures on television and film.
Curriculum
Dance Experience:
This is a course designed for students’ aged 3-7 to learn dance in a fun way. They will experience the joy of dancing while learning about the hand gestures and movements through age appropriate activities.
Beginner Level
Level I
The foundation of Indian classical dance training is developed through learning Adavus, the fundamental steps. The focus is also on posture and balance to give students a deeper awareness of the body, coordination and motor skills, and comprehension of basic rhythm. Along with it the students will learn the “Language of Dance” Mudras, the Single and Double handed gestures.
Level II
Dancers develop strength and tone as they work towards mastering their fundamental steps. They will be introduced to complex rhythmic dance patterns and students will get introduced to Abhinaya, expressional dance, and expand their dance vocabulary in this level.
Intermediate Level
Level III
By this level, the dancers are well acquainted with the basic theory of Classical Dance and are introduced to the various Dance texts. This leads to deeper understanding and study of the art form over the next levels. The focus in this level is more on technical precision, developing endurance, strength, and stamina to do longer dance numbers. They are encouraged to perform in the local community through the Nrityamala Cares Outreach Program, and are required to participate in the mandatory 2 week Summer Intensives every year onwards to prepare them for complicated and advanced dance numbers.
Level IV
The dancers have now developed the endurance to perform longer dance numbers that are 15-20 minutes long, and are introduced to more engaging Abhinaya (expression) and demanding choreography. Advancement from this level requires the students to show case precision, accuracy and strength.
Advanced Level
Level V
Level 5 culminates into a full Maargam (pathway), in the particular dance style the student is getting trained in. This demonstrates that the student is forging forward to the advanced level and will be highly considered for participation in important performance opportunities within the community and state (Illinois). Furthermore, the dancer is taught challenging pieces, which will hone their skills both technically and emotionally with increased rigor of choreography and depth of expression.
Level VI
In this advanced level, the dancers are taught from the abundant wealth of NDA repertoire. At this point, the dancer may be eligible to audition and participate in performances with the NDA Touring Group in USA and abroad. Beginning with Level 6, the students become potential candidates to perform an Arangetram (Bharatanatyam)/ Ranga Pravesam (Kuchipudi), dependent upon their development in all skill levels. (Arangetram/ Ranga Pravesam is a culminating solo performance that defines the respective student’s potential artistic passage to the professional level)
Level VII
At this level the dancers receive one on one training to facilitate their debut solo performance, Arangetram/Rangapravesam. After completion of their training and a successful debut performance, the student will graduate with a Diploma and is awarded the title “Nritya Mani”
Post-Graduation
Here the dancer’s focus is to further their respective skills in solo work, development as a teacher/choreographer, Nattuvangam, the art of conducting a performance, and research methodology. They will also be considered to be an Academy Dancer and will be commissioned for major performances and tours. Mentorship is available and encouraged to all dancers at the professional level, including those trained at Nrityamala Dance Academy and elsewhere.
