ABOUT US
For the Love of Dance
Bharathanatyam
“there is no wisdom or knowledge, in art nor craft, no device or action that is not to be found in natya”
Thus wrote Bharatha Muni in his Natyashastra, the first know treatise on the art dating around the 1st or 2nd Century AD. Flourishing in the temples of ancient India as a form of Divine worship for over 2000 years, Bharathanatyam is a vibrant and rich classical dance style. Its current form evolved about 200 years ago with the mingling of Dravidian and Sanskrit cultures and has been nurtured in the heartland of Southern India. Today, it is a growing and thriving art, bringing to the stage the spirit of the temple and a glimpse of the ancient grandeur.
Bharathanatyam blends the energy of rhythmic footwork known as Nritta, the expressive movements of emotions known as Abhinaya and statuesque poses that are iconic in Hinduism. It is a nuanced art form with strict rules. With poetry as a starting point, the dancer uses the variations of melody and meter to visually express the interpretation of words.
About NDANZ
Founded by Shanika and Gopika Gnanakumar in 2009, NDANZ (Nrithyakshetra Dance Academy New Zealand) is a Bharathanatyam dance school dedicated to the promotion of art and culture through performance, teaching, artist collaboration and experimentation.
As a dance school, we commit to maintain traditional artistic values of this ancient dance form while pushing boundaries in choreography to maintain a common interest and intrigue for a broader audience.
Shanika Gnanakumar is the current Creative Director of the dance school.
Interested in learning more about our classes? Get in touch today.