Bharatnatyam
“Dance is considered the dance of happiness, which has got many moods, sentiments,emotions, which shows all that belongs to life, but shows it divinely, and shows it as if it has transcended life.”- Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale
Bharatanatyam is a classical dance art form of India originating in Tamil Nadu. Traditionally known as Sadirattam or Dasiattam, it was an art form patronised by temples and royal courts. Bharatanatyam was performed as a ritual practice in temples and in royal courts by hereditary dancers, offered during worship.
The form integrates melody, rhythm, poetry, drama, and mime, creating a rich and layered mode of expression. Bharatanatyam consists of Nritta- pure dance that includes rhythmic footwork, striking the floor, jumps, and turns, serving as decorative and technical passages and Nritya, which focuses on emotional expression and storytelling. Nritya involves the interpretation and visual representation of ideas, emotions, and narratives, primarily conveyed through hand gestures, facial expressions, and body movements.
While Bharatanatyam encompasses many stylistic lineages, the style focused here follows the Kalakshetra tradition, an institution established by Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale.
Dance Movement Therapy
“The body keeps the score” - Bessel Van Der Kolk
Physical activity, including dance, plays an important role in mental and emotional well-being. It enhances the transmission of brain neurotransmitters, helping to delay fatigue, improve concentration, and support mood regulation. Movement is universal and our earliest form of communication, shaping how we relate to ourselves and others. Because the body and mind are deeply interconnected, emotional experiences are held, processed, and expressed through the body.
Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) is a psychotherapeutic approach that uses movement and creative expression to support socio-emotional, cognitive, and somatic integration. By engaging the body as a central pathway for awareness and expression, DMT uses movement as a primary mode of communication, especially when experiences are difficult to put into words. Through guided movement processes, individuals benefit from reduced stress, improved mood, increased self-awareness, and strengthened social connections.
Somatic Experiencing
Life is about rhythm. We vibrate, our hearts are pumping blood. We are a rhythm machine, that’s what we are - Mickey Hart
Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a body-focused, talk-based therapeutic approach developed by Dr. Peter Levine to support the resolution of stress and trauma through nervous system regulation. It is based on the understanding that overwhelming experiences are held not only in memory, but within the body and nervous system.
SE gently builds awareness of bodily sensations to help release stuck survival responses such as fight, flight, or freeze. By focusing on present moment experience rather than reliving past events, SE supports emotional regulation, resilience, and the restoration of safety and connection.