This master class highlights three foundational elements of classical Indian dance forms. Focusing on the Bharatanatyam form from South India, Vijay Palaparty and Nalini Prakash first introduce students to technique, which involves intricate footwork and hand gestures, along with a foundation on classical Indian music, which is integral to the dance form. Second, students are introduced to the hand gesture language, which is an important tool not only for technique, but also in conveying ideas and narratives. Last, students experience a codified set of expressions, which form the basis to convey feelings and emotions that are inherent in the dance form—to convey India’s rich canon of literature including myths and folktales.
