Bachelor of Arts in Bharathanatyam is an undergraduate Acting, Dance & Drama course. Dance is a series of movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music. Course focuses on developing your dance technique and knowledge of dance history, gaining embodied and theoretical experience of cultural forms, developing creative skills and increasing your knowledge of anatomy. In third year, you will work with a professional choreographer to create and perform a new work, and will work with a supervisor to create a piece of research (this might be practice-led). A variety of exciting option modules allows you to focus on areas of interest such as choreography, dance on screen, intensive technique, popular dance techniques, contemporary techniques, cultural dances, teaching and professional career development.

The department of Dance is established in 1995 and belongs to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The department produces dancers and dance teachers in Bharatanatyam.

Class room lectures: These sessions covers the theoretical part of the syllabus. The objective of the sessions is to help the students gain a detailed knowledge dance, various theories of performance, modern stage and approaches etc.

Practical Sessions : As both the disciplines taught in the department are of performing nature, more thrust is always given on providing strict training during practical sessions in ‘kalaris’.

Sanskrit Sessions: The learning of dance is incomplete without acquiring a basic knowledge of the ancient Sanskrit Texts written on Indian Dance, Music and Drama like Natyasastra, Abhinayadarpanam, Sangeetaratnakaram etc. So, there are separate sessions to provide elementary knowledge on Sanskrit language to the dance students so that they can understand these valuable texts and their interpretations with more clarity.

Cultural History Sessions: Art is a product of culture. Hence, it is important to know the past cultural history which provided a platform for the origin and evolution of various art forms that we see today. We engage faculties from history and other related departments to conduct sessions on Art and Cultural history which have been beneficial to the dance students in a great way.

Although most dancers begin formal training at an early age, a degree in dance can provide the theoretical and technical mastery that is required for professional careers within the industry. Students enrolled in dance degree programs are exposed to many different forms of dance, as well as to dance history, kinesiology, choreography and production. Many dance programs allow students to interact with professional dancers and put on their own performances. Bachelor's programs are designed to prepare dancers for performance or education careers. Applicants to either of these programs will need a high school diploma .

Bharathanatyam is one of the most cherished and the most popular of classical Indian dance-forms, not only within the country but also outside it.
Department of Bharathanatyam provides comprehensive education inBharathanatyamperformance, choreography, and theoretical studies, approaching scholarship, creative research, and practical based training in the field of Bharathanatyam. Bachelor of Bharathanatyam (2002 onwards) and MA Bharathanatyam (2012 onwards)programs establish foundations for creative and intellectual development and cultivate multiple approaches to dance and a career in it. This education is provided in an environment where each student’s talent are nurtured and guided by the faculty.

Syllabi

• BHARATANATYAM
• MOHINIYATTAM