Thread: Studying intensely in India. Teacher recs?

Hello all,
I know many dancers take some time to study intensely in places like Egypt and Turkey, and I feel like I could rattle off countless names of amazing dancers to study with in those places. However, has anyone here ever studied intensely in India for a time? Which specific style of Indian dance did you study? With which teachers?
I'm thinking of possibly spending a month studying in India next year, but I'm basically in the stage where I'm just gathering as much information as possible right now. I want to hear it all and consider it all. I'd love to hear people's experiences on absolutely any aspect of their experience in India.
Thanks! :)

Colleena Shakti Colleena Shakti - International Performing Artist

Thanks! D'uh, slapping my forehead. Do you have personal experience studying with her that you could share? :)

Others, feel free to chime in!

I could tell you some names in Chennai to study Bharata Natyam.

But I have to tell you that in just one month you will barely cover the basics. Classical Indian dances require many years of study and hard work. And there is no "easy way" around that.
Just think how much Oriental dance you could learn in one month? Now expect to not even get a quarter as much out of studying a classical Indian dance form. Plus you will have to be VERY physically fit or you won't get through the first days....

It's not that I want to discourage you from doing it - it will certainly be a great experience! Just don't expect coming home as even an intermediate level dancer.

If you can, take classes BEFORE you go there, so you already have a base and know what your guru is talking about. The Indian style of teaching is very different because usually dance students are children who have years of time, not adults with a limited time frame.
Often things are only shown, not explained much.

Two years ago I spent two weeks in Chennai, taking dance, rhythm and singing lessons every day. It was organized by my Bharata Natyam teacher who lived in India for over 7 years herself and has a lot of contacts.
We lived in a private home and even had our own cook
It was really great! But I'd say that as the most experienced of the 5 students on that trip I also profited most - because I didn't have to struggle with getting the basics right, I actually could concentrate on dancing.

Good luck!

MEISSOUN
(dancing Bharata Natyam since 1997)

By the way, here are some pictures of that trip. We did not ONLY dance :-)
A good tourist's first duty in India is to go shopping! And see some temples of course...

Chennai 2009

MEISSOUN

Originally Posted by Colleen

Thanks! D'uh, slapping my forehead. Do you have personal experience studying with her that you could share? :)

Others, feel free to chime in!

While I am sorry to say I have never studied with Colleena, she is from my home town and I knew her and performed with her a few times before she went to India. She is a sweetie and very talented.

Thank you, Meissoun!
Can't wait to check out your photos. :)

I've worked professionally as a dancer in a few different styles, so I definitely know the amount of work that goes into cultivating the craft. I was absolutely not in any way implying that I wanted some easy way of learning the style. I truly hope the post doesn't read that way somehow. I have studied a bit of Indian dance already, and I figured a month in India would be a great way to continue the studies, and naturally to have a travel/life experience.

Thank you sooooo much for your reply, though. This is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping to get. :)