Temple Steps Dance Academy
Dance is a way of life. When a student starts her journey with Bharatanatyam, she is not only learning to tap her feet to music; she is choosing to learn music, rhythm, poetry, yoga and meditation.
Research has proven that dancing with the soul has numerous mental and physical health benefits. With this journey, one begins to understand their body and connect with their mind better. Bharatanatyam is a never-ending journey and through Temple Steps we wish to take you into the magnificent realm of art.
Temple Steps highly focuses on perfecting and moulding every born talent into aspiring dancers. We offer one-to-one classes as well as group classes for students of all age groups.
Temple Steps is located in Neptune Country, Kadavanthra, Kochi. Temple Steps currently has around a hundred students from the US, UK, Europe, Middle East, India and Australia learning through the online and offline platform. The institution was founded in 2018 and has so far conducted many full-fledged solo Ranga Praveshams (90-minute solo recitals) and Chilanka Poojas (debut stage performances) for roughly 100 students.
About the Course
Temple Steps offers certificate courses in dance. For easier understanding, they have been divided into three levels. The examinations will be conducted every year by qualified external examiners. Students have to attend the theory and practical exams in person in Kochi. Overseas students can attend all three levels together once they feel they are eligible.
What We Offer
Level 1 – BRAHMA
Exercises necessary for a dancer Main Adavus Theory (Basics) Introduction to Music Introduction to Thalam On completion of the practical examination and viva, students are offered the certificate BRAHMA.
Level 2 – VISHNU
This includes more theory and the first few items of a Bharatanatyam repertoire More Adavus Alarippu Jathiswaram Shabdam Theory (Intermediate level) Music of each item Reciting all Adavus, Alarippu and Jathiswaram in Thalam On completion of the practical examination and viva, students are offered the certificate VISHNU.
Level 3 – MAHESHWARA
This includes advanced theory and advanced items in a repertoire Varnam Padam Thillana Theory Music of each item Reciting Jathis of Varnam and Thillana in Thalam On completion of the practical examination and viva, students are offered the certificate MAHESHWARA.
Our Process
Once a student finishes learning an entire repertoire, he/she will be given the privilege to conduct her Arangetram where he/she performs the entire Margam as a solo performer on stage. The Margam will be a minimum of 90 minutes long and will be performed with a live orchestra. Arangetram or Ranga Pravesham is not a group performance or a ten-minute performance. It is the debut of the Bharatanatyam artist. It takes months of practice and a lot of effort to be eligible to conduct this. On completion of Arangetram, the student becomes a recipient of the THRIMOORTHY certification.
However, the pace of learning or grasping cannot be measured equally for every student. Hence some students may take longer than three years and some may finish the course in less than the mentioned time. Please note that a student only finishes learning the course, not the entire art form.
ABOUT OUR FACULTIES
AMRITHA A
Amrutha has completed her M.A. in Bharatanatyam from R.L.V College, Kerala. She has worked as a guest faculty in various institutions and dance colleges.
NAKSHATHRA S
Nakshathra is a senior student of Temple Steps and has performed at various stages under the tutelage of Utthara Unni. She holds a diploma in Bharatanatyam from Kalai Kavery College and graduated with a B.A. in Bharatanatyam from R.L.V. College. She is currently pursuing M.A. in Bharatanatyam from Chidambaram.
KRISHNA SUNIL
Krishna has completed her B.A. from Lasya Kalakshethra, Kannur University and her M.A. in Bharatanatyam from Kalai Kavery, Tamil University. She has won several accolades at the district and state level.
PERFORMANCES:
There will be one annual program for which all students will be given opportunities to perform. Determined and hard-working students will be given various opportunities to perform in temples and other festivals once they are eligible. Performances will be conducted in India and other countries. The cost of each performance may vary depending on the location, event sponsorship, recorded music/live orchestra etc.