FAQ
Bharatanatyam is not a clinical science. It is an art form. Many a time, you may have questions that may not have scientific, logical answers. Certain things are done the way they are because a Guru created them that way or because it looks beautiful that way.
When should I arrive?
- Arrive 10-15 min before scheduled time and perform your warm up exercises. This will help avoid injury and undue fatigue.
- If you scheduled a 1:1 lesson, please re-confirm your appointment on the online class calendar.
What should I bring to class?
- Your passion for dance
- Water bottle. It is important to keep your body hydrated.
- Your Arpan Dance folder and a a writing instrument.
- Thaalam or Thattupalaka if your class includes this content.
Is there a dress code I need to follow?
- Dress properly in the prescribed attire
- Kids below 13 – wear your ARPAN uniform or until you acquire one, wear a loose salwar kameez/kurta payjama with a dupatta so that your torso movements can be perceived well.
- Women – Wear a dance saree. You may wear a salwar kurta with a dupatta until such time that you acquire a dance saree. Do not wear sleeveless tops.
- Men - Wear a dance mundu/dhoti. You may wear a kurta payjama with a dupatta until such time that you acquire a dhoti.
- Wear a bindi, preferably with Kajal or kumkum since the bindi glue can damage your skin.
- Do not wear too much jewelry. You might hurt yourself. A couple of plain metal bangles should work.
- Tie your hair (preferably plait it as opposed to leaving it open in a pony tail) so that it stays away from your face.
- Do not sport long nails. You stand the risk of injury.
Are there rules of conduct while in class?
How should I behave?
- Greet your teacher and any other senior dancers and or visitors with your hands folded and say Namaste or Namaskaaram.
- Traditionally in India, addressing your teacher by his/her first name is considered disrespectful. You can use terms such as Akka, Anna, Chechi, Chetan, Didi, Bhaiyya, Sir, and Teacher as applicable.
- Do not talk during class (especially when your teacher is talking), unless you have a question.
- Try not to walk out of class with your back to your teacher. It is considered improper to show your back to your teacher, anyone older to you or those sitting at the head of a class.
- If you are in a group class and you wish to go to the other side of the class room, do not walk through the group. Walk around to the back of the classroom to the other side.
- When you get a break in class, try to relax with deep breathing exercises while in sthanakam position or stretch out. Try not to talk unnecessarily. It breaks concentration.
- After the class/rehearsal, pay respects to your guru (pranaam or namaskar).
- If you are sitting and watching a class, do not extend your legs towards the class. If you are sitting down in class for a theory session, do not extend your legs towards the teacher/musicians.
What should I do in class?
- Say your prayers and do your namaskaar before and after class. Paying your respects not just to your teacher but to the musical instruments used is also an accepted norm.
- Warm up before class. When you first join a good 15 minutes of your class will be warm-ups. After a couple of quarters, it is your responsibility to come early, lay down a yoga mat at the back of the class and do your own personal warm-up.
- Practice your steps from the previous lesson in all three speeds. If you are learning items, revise them repeatedly until you can do them without thinking about the sequence. Classes are designed for learning and polishing not for revisions. You will need to ensure that you practice/revise in your personal time.
- Write down your theory instructions diligently. Get your pronunciations right.
- Memorize all the shlokas that have been taught. This is for your benefit. As far as possible a dancer’s dependency on written materials and support should be minimal.
- Trust your teacher. Your dance education is your teacher’s priority too as well as their domain of expertise.
I love performing? How soon can I get on stage?
- You will perform on stage when your teacher/guru thinks you are ready to do so physically, mentally and spiritually.
- Arpan is not keen on presenting its students for every little Diwali/ Dussehra show put up in malls or parks. It detracts from focused learning and the gain is not commensurate.
- With your teacher's permission you are welcome to perform outside of Arpan, as long as you do not present Arpan material in these shows and there is no conflict of interest. For eg., you are missing regular classes because you signed up to dance in a Diwali show or Bollywood show with another organization.
- Please inform your teacher before you sign up for any dance event outside Arpan, however small it might be.
- Every other year, Arpan holds its Students Showcasing Day for family and friends called Ehsaas. All students perform at this event irrespective of the level of training or accomplishment.
- It typically takes 5-7 years for you to reach the minimum bar to perform an arangetram. However, each dancer is unique and can get there outside of this generic time-line.
What is the class environment like?
- Arpan classes are a very symbiotic and create a mutual give and take environment.
- Everyone learns from everyone.
- No one is a better or worse dancer.
- Everyone works at their own skill levels and pace with classmates encouraging each other.
- This is not a competitive sport and any signs of unhealthy competition might actually require you to leave Arpan.
- You are here to grow as beautiful people and help yourself and others find joy in dance.
I missed a class. How do I catch up? - Group Class guidelines
- If you are more than 15 minutes late, you are requested to sit and watch the class and not disturb everyone else.
- I will start warm-ups sharp at class start time for e.g., 7:00 sharp. They are part of the class so do not assume that you can skip the yoga/exercise session and join only for the dance part.
- If you are planning to not come to class, I need to know 24hrs in advance or at least by 12 noon of that day.
- If you have an excused absence in class, it is your responsibility to catch up on taught content with your classmates. Feel free to email the group alias to catch up on missed homework and well as classwork. There are no 1:1 make up classes scheduled specially for absentees however, you are welcome to come to a junior level class anytime before your next class.
- If you miss more than 3-4 classes per quarter, then you can fix up private time of 15 min before class to assist you in catching up. Please make sure that you inform me ahead of time so your 15 does not clash with the previous class.
- As a student you are expected to attend class all year around. If you miss more than 1 Quarters in a year, you are automatically ported over to the inactive student group and pulled out of class related mailing lists.
I signed up for private lessons. What should I remember?
- Class is being held exclusively for you. Please value and respect your time as well as mine.
- Cancellation notice is required at least 48 hrs prior to class. Else you will be charged for the class.
- Payments for private lessons are due before class in cash or via Zelle to avoid follow up logistics. Minimum punch card is a 5-class card. If you are coming for intensives such as arangetram or technique, you can pay a lumpsum and start a debit spreadsheet.
- This is your learning time. You will get as much out of it as you plan or want. So please prepare ahead of time and let your instructor know what you might need from them. This is especially true for Level 7 Master classes.
- Bring your notebooks, notes for items you want to revise, music, nattuvangam tools etc.
I am an Arpan Parent. What are my responsibilities?
Learning
- Please help your child review content at least twice every week before they come to their next class. This promotes retention and faster learning.
- You are welcome to sit in the last 5-6 minutes of class if your child does not yet know how to read and write easily.
- Review the Youtube links at Arpan's channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/ArpanPerformingArts
Logistics
- Please review the parking flow guidelines to ensure cars leave and come smoothly. Click here and review the text in purple to understand how the drop-off works.
- Please send a water bottle with your child. We have a water jar but it’s a good idea to carry your own.
- Make sure your child brings their ARPAN folder and a writing instrument to every class.
Community
- You are required to contribute 20 hours of time for the Arpan community per year.
- If you are prepping for an arangetram, you are required to be an active participant in at least two prior arangetrams.
- Be part of the Arpan Parent Board and contribute to organising shows.
Can I bring a visitor or observe my child's class?
Parents are welcome to attend class providing they are active participants (i.e. dancing along with students, actively observing, making notes, NOT chatting or on computers, cell phones, etc.). This privilege is to enable you to both participate with your child (if you wish) and to help when it comes time to practice, as you will be more familiar with what is covered in class.
- Visitors, parents, and friends may observe classes in session during pre-defined weeks each quarter.
- You may also request attendance if your child has special needs.
- If your child is unable to write well yet, you may come in during the last 5-8 min of the class only on the invitation of the instructor to help your child copy notes from the whiteboard.
- Please call/email the day before if you are bringing a guest.
IMP - No one is allowed inside the studios while classes are in session without prior permission from the instructor.