Arts & Culture

Seven year old Master Naman Anand Hembram is the "Little Champ' as he was judged the best dancer in the junior category for the Antarang Utsav National Dance Competition (2026), organised by All India Dancers Association (AIDA) in Mumbai on 20th April. Master Naman is a trained Bharata Natyam dancer and has been seeking training under award winning Bharata Natyam exponent and mentor,based in New Delhi, Ayush Jaiswal. He is the director of Ayush Dance Works(ADW), a premier onl

Dance is like that wisp of air—invisible to the eye, yet palpable along the contours of the body. It is akin to an unspoken language—one that is born before words exist and endures long after words have faded away. World Dance Day signifies far more than a mere ticking entry on a calendar; it is the reawakening of that primal memory—the moment when humanity first touched the earth with its feet, and from that very touch, a rhythm was born.

India’s dance traditions are not merely art forms—they are living embodiments of history, devotion, storytelling, and identity. From the intricate footwork of Kathak to the sculptural grace of Bharatanatyam, from the spiritual lyricism of Odissi to the vibrant storytelling of Kathakali, each tradition carries within it centuries of wisdom passed down through generations. These dances are not static relics of the past—they breathe through the bodies of practitioners, guided by

The archeological survey of India has in the 12th century identified Chennakeshava temple in Belur and Halebid in Hassan district, Karnataka as one of the distinguished monuments and is in the list of world heritage sites. Of the total 44 UNESCO world heritage sites in the country these have been the most celebrated ones as a tourist spot. Hoysaleshwara temple also spelled as Hoysaleswara, also referred simply as the Halebidu temple, is a 12th century Hindu temple dedicated t

When was the last time you truly felt what you were wearing? The morning sun slipped gently through the curtains as Meher stood before her wardrobe, fingers hovering between a crisp white shirt and her grandmother’s soft, handwoven dupatta. “Dadi,” she called out, “does it really matter what wear anymore? Isn’t it all just… fashion?” From the other room came a soft chuckle. “Put on that dupatta and come here,” her grandmother replied. Meher sighed—but she obeyed. The Language

The relationship between art and dance is like that between the body and its pulse. You could call dance "moving art" and art "stilled dance movements." The only difference is that one is static on canvas, the other flows through the body. Art, at its core, is expression—through color, words, sound, or form. Dance embodies that expression, where ideas are not merely thought, but lived. A painter transcends their inner restlessness through color, while a dancer expresses that

Shivapriya School of Dance (Bengaluru) presented the elevating Bharata Natyam performance by Dr. Sanjay Shantaram on the occasion of his birthday on 7 th March at Seva Sadan auditorium, Malleswaram, Bengaluru. The holistic performance “Kavi Kavya Namana” was a tribute to the great scholars whose soulful compositions have enriched and elevated the field of Indian classical dance.

Arka Kala Kuteera (Bengaluru), presented Arka Kalasambrama-15 programme to mark International Women’s Day on March 8 at Arka Theatre,JP Nagar,Bengaluru. It was amazing to watch the varied facets of women with divine manifestations, performed by three group of accomplished Bharata Natyam dancers, Reshma Shreenath and Shruthi P Ravikumar, Bhavana Kanthy and her disciples and the Rupesh’s Arangham ensemble. It was gratifying to watch the dancers dancing with complete involvement

Today, as the world races towards technological advancement, artificial intelligence, hyper-connectivity, and rapid modernization, humanity stands at a strange crossroads. We are progressing faster than ever before, yet many societies are experiencing emotional fatigue, cultural disconnection, loneliness, anxiety, and an increasing loss of identity. In the midst of abundance, there is restlessness. In the midst of information, there is confusion. In the midst of constant visi

Dance is a divine and immortal art form. Its emergence could be dated back from a very early time; when seasonal change stimulated the feelings of the beings, when the beings realized the beauty in nature and in them when they felt that, they are into this world with a mission – a mission to glorify and beautify their thoughts and feelings through movements, sounds, patterns, symbols and gestures. They tried to beautify their surroundings including themselves. And from there,

The gurukulam system was a system of education, found in India since Ancient times. Here the student (shishya), would go on to live with their teacher (guru), coexisting in a relationship where the guru would pass on all his academic knowledge to his shishyas. This system also served to preserve the many art forms of India, mainly classical dances such as Kuchipudi. This system has carried the tales of the yesteryears into the coming generations, maintaining the flow of steps

For a long time now, we have observed victorious athletes on the playing field striking a specific hand gesture while posing for photographs—forming the shape of the English letter 'V' using their index and middle fingers. However, following 2010—when smartphones began to gain traction in India, much as they were in other parts of the world, and the popularity of social media gradually surged—a veritable craze for taking mobile selfies swept across every segment of Indian soc

Dance and yoga are two ancient forms of human expression that arise from the same desire—to understand the body, the breath, and the deeper rhythm of life. While dance expresses movement outwardly through art and performance, yoga turns movement inward, guiding the practitioner toward awareness and harmony. When dancers practice yoga, they do not simply stretch their muscles or strengthen their bodies; they begin a journey of balance, control, and inner understanding.

A time comes, when a toddler learns to say his first word - “Mama”. From then on, he ventures into the world of alphabets. Letters turn into words, words into sentences, and sentences into paragraphs. Well, this is just the beginning of his journey. Petty lies to the teacher, verbal fights with his enemy, his life’s first confession, words of affirmation, his first job interview all follow by. This is him living in an expressive world, where emotions, wants and requirements a

India today stands at an interesting yet deeply paradoxical crossroads. On one hand, the country has made substantial progress in female literacy, with women’s literacy rates touching nearly 75–77% in 2023–2024. On the other hand, a significant number of girls and women still lack basic awareness, confidence, and agency regarding menstrual hygiene and self-care. Literacy, therefore, has not automatically translated into bodily awareness, health autonomy, or menstrual dignity.