Dance Training
The 2010 FALL Session of private, semi-private, adult group, and children's Bharata Natyam dance lessons runs from September to December 2010. Reserve your preferred day and time now by contacting Anusha Fernando, filling out a registration form, and returning it with full payment on or before your first day of class.
CHILDREN'S GROUP CLASS (3-4 students): Sundays 11:00 - 11:45 am, Sept 12 - Dec 12 (no class Oct 10 or Nov 21): $156 Click here for the registration form
ADULT GROUP CLASS (3-4 students): Sundays 1pm - 2pm, Sept 12 - Dec 12 (no class Oct 10 or Nov 21): $144 Click here for the registration form
CHILDREN or ADULT PRIVATE LESSONS: Click here for the 2010 FALL rates and schedule for private and semi-private lessons
Click here for the 2010 FALL ADULT registration form
Click here for the 2010 FALL CHILDREN'S registration form
The training offered at Shakti Dance seeks to illuminate Bharata Natyam as a personally and societally transformative practice and to illuminate the relevance of Bharata Natyam training to our contemporary lives. In a culture where people are constantly searching and immersed in activity, Bharata Natyam throws light on the values of commitment, focus and discipline. In a world where people cultivate the notion of a separate self, Bharata Natyam inspires devotion, humility, and can reveal the reality of inter-being in everyone.
Shakti Dance offers private, semi-private, small-group and children's instruction in Bharata Natyam at both professional and recreational levels.
The professional training program focuses on five areas: technique, inner and outer expression, repertoire, Carnatic music, and textual studies. These private (or semi-private) lessons in our studio on West 22nd Avenue in Vancouver are rigorous and generally lead to a Bharata Natyam graduation performance called an Arangetram.
Shakti Dance's recreational group classes are taught in small-group for beginners (maximum 4 students) in the Shakti studio, and in larger group intermediate at the Kitsilano Community Centre. For more information, contact KCC, or contact us.
Shakti Dance also offers small-group children's classes (maximum 4 students). See registration form for details about the current term's dates, times and rates.
Teaching and payment schedules for both professional and recreational lessons are set up according to sessions: Fall, from September through December - Winter, from January through March - Spring, from April through June - Summer, July and August.
Shakti Dance also offers opportunities for advanced learning and master classes with senior Bharata Natyam exponents. For the past four summers we have been offering workshops with Srimati Jayalakshmi Eshwar from New Delhi, India. These workshops have allowed students to experience traditional Indian style classes, develop technique, and learn classic repertoire.
Graduates
Alicia Dobbs
Alicia's interest in dance began at an early age, studying ballet for several years at the Pacific Ballet Theatre School in Vancouver. She began her study of Bharata Natyam in 2002 after seeing Anusha Fernando perform in Tales from the Ramayana. She took group classes at the Scotiabank Dance Centre with Jai Govinda and Anusha Fernando before beginning private study with Anusha at Shakti Dance Society, where she has also trained with Srimati Jayalakshmi Eshwar. Alicia is in the process of earning her BA at the University of British Columbia and will be graduating in May 2009 with a major in English Literature and a minor in French. She also works part-time at the Vancouver Public Library and for a number of years has volunteered regularly at the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival.
Vandna Sidher
Vandna Sidher has trained with several esteemed teachers over the past twenty-one years, including Anusha Fernando, Artistic Director of Shakti Dance Society, Srimati Jayalakshmi Eshwar of Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi, India, and Jai Govinda of Mandala Arts and Culture. Since 1997, she has trained with Anusha Fernando, and in May 2005, completed her Arangetram (solo graduation performance). In 2005, aided by the B.C. Arts Council, Vandna traveled to study dance in New Delhi with Srimati Jayalakshmi Eshwar and in 2007, she received the prestigious Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Arts Fellowship, which took her back to New Delhi for more intensive training. Vandna continues to study Bharata Natyam in Canada and India.
Vandna has taught Bharata Natyam at the recreational level for the City of Surrey, and teaches solo lessons. Most recently, her solo production, Five Elements (2009) was presented by the City of Surrey and the Surrey Art Centre (SAC) as part of the 2008/09 Season at the SAC. She has performed in Shakti Dance's production, Body of Dance (2005) and as a solo artist co-produced Safar: A Journey of classical Indian dance (2007) presented by Presentation House Theatre and supported by the BC Arts Council and Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society. Vandna continues to perform and teach workshops at various events within the lower mainland. Currently, she is a Director for the Arts Council of Surrey. As a professional performer and instructor, she continues to study and train in the tradition and is interested in exploring traditional Bharata Natyam repertoire within a contemporary framework. Vandna has a B.A. in Communications and Publishing from Simon Fraser University. www.vandnasidher.com
Sheri Poulsen
Sheri Poulsen studied Bharata Natyam with Anusha Fernando for several years. She has also received training from Jayalakshmi Eshwar of New Delhi, and Jai Govinda. Prior to studying Bharata Natyam, Sheri both trained in and taught jazz, hip-hop and ballet. Sheri's interest in Bharata Natyam developed as a result of her travels to India in 1995, her studies of Indian culture at UBC, as well as her deep passion for liturgical/spiritual dance.
Sheri has performed in "Nadopasana" at the Playhouse (2004); and "Body of Dance" at the Gibson's Playhouse and The Roundhouse (2005). She also performed in benefit shows, including a 2005 benefit for the Tsunami victims of South Asia. In November 2005, Shakti Dance Society presented Sheri's graduating Arangetram performance at The Roundhouse. She is currently interested in cross-cultural explorations of Bharata Natyam in Christian theology. Sheri has an M.A. in Counselling Psychology and works in private practice.