Utkarsh – Demystifying Indian Dance

A Lecture Demonstration series
Varṇam – Mother of Manodharma
By Nandini Ramani

An NCPA Presentation

Utkarsh is an interactive lecture-demonstration series designed to introduce the audience to Indian classical dance. By taking audiences on a journey through each dance form’s historical origins, distinct identifiers like aharya and mudras, unique music, and foundational movements, it demystifies traditional art forms, showcasing the incredible richness and vast repertoire of India’s dance heritage. This month we feature, renowned Bharatanatyam artiste, Nandini Ramani.

Nandini Ramani is a senior Bharatanatyam exponent, teacher, dance critic having trained under Smt. T. Balasarawati and Sri K. Ganesan. She has also received training in Vocal Carnatic Music under Prof. B. Krishnamoorthy and specialized training under Smt. T. Mukta. Ramani has performed extensively across India and abroad and also writes on various topics of Performing Art and Culture. She is a recipient of the Central Sangeet Natak Akedemi Award, New Delhi, Natya Padma Award from the Brahma Gana Sabha and Kartik Rajagopal Memorial Award among others and a sitting Member of certain Committees under the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of I & B. Ramani is the Managing Trustee of the Dr. V. Raghavan Centre for Performing Arts, a non-profit organization initiated by her mother, Smt. Sarada Raghavan, wife of the illustrious Sanskrit Scholar and Indologist Dr. V. Raghavan for nurturing and propagating multifaceted aspects of Sanskrit Language, Indian Culture, Performing Arts and Heritage.

Aspects of Abhinay will delve on the foundational framework of expression and communication in classical Indian performing arts, as mentioned in ancient texts like Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra and Nandikeshvara’s Abhinaya Darpana. Participants will learn more about the balance between physical discipline (Angika), vocal harmony (Vachika), visual aesthetics (Aharya), and deep emotional truth (Sattvika) that will enable them to communicate the Bhava (state of mind) to the spectator, achieving the ultimate goal of classical art: the shared experience of Rasa.

Box office now open.