Mumbai: The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) invited Dr Guru Meenakshi Shriyan of Arunodaya Kala Niketan to conduct an in-depth lecture-demonstration at Shree Saraswati Vidhyamandir, Bhandup, as part of its ongoing Nritya Parichaya series aimed at strengthening classical arts education among schoolchildren.
The session introduced students to the foundational principles of Bharatanatyam, offering a rare opportunity to explore the art form through both theory and practice. Children were guided through the significance of the five elements, sensory awareness, chakras, and spatial geometry—concepts that form the structural and philosophical base of classical dance. Demonstrations of mudras and basic adavus helped students understand how movement transforms into a visual language, while expressive sequences illustrated how narratives take form through rhythm and gesture.
Live mridangam accompaniment enriched the demonstration, allowing students to witness how percussion anchors choreography and breathes life into each movement. The interactive format encouraged curiosity, with students observing, responding, and experimenting with the vocabulary of the dance form.
Arunodaya Kala Niketan acknowledged the enthusiastic involvement of students Shruti, Nithya, and Nachiket, whose participation added energy and engagement to the presentation.
Expressing gratitude, the institution thanked Swapno Kalpa Dasgupta, Marian Dsouza, Aditya Tiwari, the NCPA team, and the school management for extending the invitation and creating a meaningful platform where young learners could connect with India’s classical heritage.
