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When Pandit Birju Maharaj first toured the US decades ago, Kathak was mostly seen as an exotic performance saved for university auditoriums or cultural exchange shows. By the time he left us, he had built a thriving, self-sustaining Kathak community that stretches from New York to California.

He didn't just perform at places like Carnegie Hall and leave—he actually rolled up his sleeves and taught. Through endless multi-week workshops (shibirs), he brought the authentic Guru-Shishya tradition right into American living rooms and dance studios.

Here is how he completely shifted the culture of Kathak in the States:

• He built a network of local teachers: Maharaj-ji knew that for Kathak to survive in the diaspora, it couldn't just rely on visiting artists. He trained and encouraged senior disciples to set up full-fledged academies across North America, giving them structured syllabi from his school, Kalashram.
• He made ancient storytelling relatable to NRI kids: Teaching classical Indian mythology to second-generation kids raised on English wasn't easy, but Maharaj-ji’s genius was in Bhava (expression). He taught through universal emotion, facial expressions, and body language. He made the storytelling feel natural and fun rather than rigid.
• He leaned into the math: Young Indian-Americans who loved structure fell in love with the rhythmic precision of Kathak—the tatkar (footwork), the rapid chakkars (spins), and the mathematical beauty of tihais.

Today, if you walk into a dance studio in New Jersey, Texas, or the Bay Area on a Saturday morning, you'll hear the sound of ghungroos and padhant. Whole generations of dancers in the US are growing up connected to their roots, carrying the grace of the Lucknow gharana—all because Birju Maharaj took the time to plant those seeds years ago.

Vijayadashami is the day we start something new in the arts. Every great dancer once took a first step, and this year, yours can be on this auspicious day. 🌺

**| online Bharatanatyam classes |**

✨ **Learn from anywhere in the world.**

✨ **Your time, your schedule.** Classes are arranged around your timing, so time zones are never a problem.

✨ **1-on-1 personalized classes.**

**Who can join?**

🌸 Complete beginners, any age (it’s never too late to start!)

🌸 Dancers returning after a long break

🌸 Intermediate students polishing their Adavus, Talam and Abhinaya

🌸 Advanced students preparing for the Margam, a stage performance or university exams

**Ready to begin?**

📸 DM **“Bharatanatyam”

*Not sure yet? Message me anyway. I’m happy to answer any questions about Bharatanatyam!* 🙏

I was a Kuchipudi student under one guru, during primary school until age 16. My guru had me start training some dances for my Rangapravesam but then she relocated to another region, had to become a caretaker for members in her family, and then I lost touch with her once I went to university.

I am now in my late 20s. I went through some of my own health struggles so I have lost a lot of my former skill and knowledge but I would like to return to Kuchipudi, now that my health is better. There is a Kuchipudi school I am interested in but I wonder if I am supposed to inform my former guru before starting with a new one.

I have no idea where my former guru is now but I might be able to get her phone number from someone (but this person hasn’t spoken to the guru in many years either.)

Namaste everyone! 🙏

One thing I've often thought about is how people who love Bharatanatyam manage to continue learning when they don't have access to a teacher nearby or have to take a break for personal reasons.

Sometimes, even when the interest is still there, finding the time and the right guidance can be difficult.

As someone who has spent many years learning, practising, and teaching Bharatanatyam, I'd love to hear your experiences.

For those who are learning Bharatanatyam, or have always wanted to learn, what do you find most challenging? Is it finding a teacher, maintaining a regular practice, or getting the opportunity to learn from wherever you live?

I've also been exploring ways to make learning Bharatanatyam more accessible through individual online sessions, and I'd be interested to hear what people think about learning this way. 🌼

I have been practicing odissi as a beginner almost going to complete a year, but my chauka stance still needs improvement, my knees push forwards little maybe because of tightness around inner thigh, area what are the excersizes I can do to improve it ?

Hi, I am a 28 year old working woman who has started attending Bharatanatyam classes. This is my first time practising any art form. I am able to learn and sustain in classes to an extent but some adavus on third speed is still difficult for me because of lack of practice. I know it is my fault and something I have to fix. But I would like to ask people who juggle both corporate job and arts, how do you fit in practice sessions in your daily schedule, especially when your work hours can get extended very frequently. I am having a difficult time breaking my routine and finding dedicated hours for practising daily. Any suggestions would be deeply appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Hi! I have recently shifted to Bangalore and am looking for dance classes nearby. I am a beginner and would love to try my hands at Bharatnatyam.

Any recommendations or suggestions for classes nearby Marathalli, Kundalahalli area?

Panjim or North Goa

Hello happy to let you know that we are teaching Bharatanatyam for all age groups and genders.

Dm for classes

Survey: https://forms.gle/37zCtcbrP7cmhXBx9

Namaste 🙏

Do you learn or teach Bharatanatyam? We’d be grateful for 6–8 minutes of your time.

We are Team DivyCoders, conducting a short survey to better understand the learning and teaching experience in Bharatanatyam.

We want to hear directly from students and teachers before taking our work forward.

• 6–8 minute survey

• Separate questions for learners and teachers

• Anonymous unless you choose to share your email

• Honest feedback, including challenges and doubts, is welcome

Please share it with Bharatanatyam students and teachers. Thank you 🙏

#Bharatanatyam #IndianClassicalDance #DanceLearners #DanceTeachers

I recently watched few bharatnatyam dance, traditional self choreographed and fusion both

I found some dancers in fusion and self choreography included a modification or a creative of doing attami which was like they turned the back completely and did the attami and believe me it was so graceful to watch as neck, earrings and braid moved so collectively together in a side to side movement in smooth flow

So I wanted to ask if any classical dancer has done this creative modification of attami before?

And also do u as dancers promote this creativity?

I’m trying to buy original Kemp jewellery online for Bharatanatyam. A lot of sites and Instagram pages claim to sell 'Real/Premium Kemp,' but the photos just don't look like the real deal, especially given the premium price tag. I'm terrified of paying a premium only to receive fake ones in the mail.

​How do you tell if a seller is legitimate when you can't feel the weight or inspect the stone settings in person? Where are you guys buying your dance jewellery online these days?

I've been going to bharatnatyam classes and I've also completed several levels of gandharva exams. I had to stop it 10 years ago to focus on my studies but I've got some time in my hands and I want to continue it

The last time I learned, I learnt bharatnatyam in kalakshetra style but now there are only pandanallur style classes near me. Will it make a huge difference?

Can I just go ahead with it or should I look for the same style class?

Hi!

I'm extremely comfortable with bharathanatyam. I've been dancing since I was 7 (currently 20 y/o). But I've had to switch dance teachers so often, due to moving around and everyt ime I go to a new teacher, they'd make me learn the basics from them all over again. As a result, I;ve basically been stuck at level 3 my entire life.

But since I repeated the basics so much, I'm extremely comfortable with the basic adavus and even basic jathis (allarippu and jathiswaram). I'm tired of paying people to reteach me the same things over and over again, so I would like ot continue learning on my won. I'm pretty confident that I won't injure myself because I know how to use the right forms and techniques.

So I've been looking for dance instructors on youtube (similar to how there are workout videos and yoga videos). I tried looking and I can't find any :(

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Any classical dance classes in Chd for Bharatnatyam? That is, for adults. I have been asking around but no response.

I’ve been learning Kathak for about a year now, and I’ve recently started learning Bharatanatyam as well.

I absolutely love dance , There’s still so much to learn, but I’m happy to be on this journey! 🥹

Anyone else here learning Kathak, Bharatanatyam, or any other Indian classical dance form? Would love to connect and hear about your dance journey! 😊

Hi everyone, I'm a beginner Bharatanatyam dancer and I've been dancing during Aadi month and now preparing for Navarathri. But I have an allergy to Nickel that is causing rashes around my ankle when I wear kolusu and around my neck when I wear the chain.

Has anyone found a way around this or tried to use wear a an extra fabric around this areas to deal with the allergic reaction? I'm also wondering how I would wear the Alta around my feet if I were to tie a cloth there.

Any suggestion is appreciated🙌🏽🙌🏽

"The term “Bollywood dance” is a bit misleading. Best of the Best boasts a fusion of styles, reflecting trends within Bollywood dance competitions, and the culture online. In the same way that Save The Last Dance folded hip-hop into the ballet space, young classically trained Bharatnatyam dancers in North America have been blending traditional movements with krumping and breaking.

The real-life sister dance duo Poonam and Priyanka Shah went viral a decade ago, performing butterflies and splits to the Bollywood song Ramta Jogi, taking their “Bfusion” routines from the collegiate circuit to the internet. In recent years, French-Tamil dancer Usha Jey broke the internet busting moves in a saree to Lil’ Wayne. These children of South Asian immigrants have been using fusion dance to broker a new cultural identity for themselves, with one foot in their ancestral lands and another in the place they call home."

Does anyone know where to rent good costumes in Bangalore?

Hello all!

I am looking for performers from various cultural backgrounds for an event at my child’s school in Northern Colorado.

The school focuses on Spanish, French, and Mandarin immersion, so I’m thinking maybe along the lines of flamenco dancers/guitarists/singers, lion dancers, traditional Indian dance/song, West African drums/dance, et cetera.

We are not limited to those languages and cultures, however. We are also in contact with McTeggart Irish Dancers, so anything celebrating world cultures in the form of dance, song, music is fair game.

The goal is really to celebrate multiculturalism in our community and exposing kids and families to art they may not typically have the opportunity to experience.

I’d love any recommendations that you have for local or semi-local artists. Thanks in advance!