New Locations & New Semester at the Natyalaya School of Dance
We are happy to announce that we will soon be opening up new locations of the Natyalaya School of Dance in both the Leander and Round Rock areas!
Classes will be 8-sessions long and will start in Leander on October 8 at 12 PM and end on December 17th (excluding Thanksgiving Break) for students. We will be offering both beginner-level and intermediate-level classes for new batches of students. The address for the new location in Leander is 300 N Bagdad Rd, Leander, TX 78641, at the Dance Academy and Ballet Academy North.
Natyalaya uniforms can be purchased during the first couple of classes and once bought, students should come to every class wearing their uniform, a dupatta, and a bindi. Students should also bring a water bottle, a binder with paper or a notebook to write notes in, and a pencil. Throughout the class, students are taught dance theory, hand gestures, and new material that they can recap in their notebooks for later reference.
It is important that students arrive on time because classes will begin with 5-10 minutes of stretches. It is important to always stretch before dancing because it allows the muscles to be warmed. After we stretch, we always do the Bhumi Namaskar before and after dancing to seek blessing from our guru and to say sorry to Mother Earth for stomping on her, and then say our prayers. Once both stretches and the Namaskaram are complete, dances and steps from the last class are revised and new material is taught. During the last 10 minutes of class, students in new classes will be taught new hand gestures- asamyukta hastas (single-hand gestures) and samyukta hastas (double-hand gestures)-, will write notes and the homework from that class in their notebooks, and will do the Bhumi Namaskar again.
It is very important that students practice at home what they have learned in class because future classes will be built upon what was already taught. Beginner students should practice at home for at least 15-20 minutes per day and intermediate level students should practice for at least 30 minutes-1 hour per day.
We look forward to meeting you all and are excited to start off a new semester at the Natyalaya School of Dance!
Natyalaya Vijayadashami Celebration
Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra or Dasara, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navratri. It marks the triumph of Lord Rama over Ravana, the ten-headed demon who abducted Rama’s wife, Sita.
Vijayadashami is celebrated all across India in multiple different ways.
In South India, Durga—the Hindu goddess of strength and motherhood—is worshiped, major temples and forts are lit up in Mysore (a major hub for Vijayadashami celebrations), and many households host Golus (the festive display of dolls and figurines). Additionally, it has been a common tradition in South India to also dedicate this festival to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, learning, music, and the arts. During Saraswathi Puja, which occurs the day before Vijayadashami, many households clean and worship their books, instruments, and tools and avoid doing any work to pay their respects to both Goddess Durga and Goddesses Saraswati. Then on Vijayadashami, they practice their arts and work.
In West India, people fast, go to the temple to pray, wear new clothes, and participate in Garba and Dandiya Raas, regional dances originating from the state of Gujarat. Additionally, many farmers plant their crops on the day that Vijayadashami (also known as Dussehra in many north and west Indian states) occurs because it is believed to have an important association with agricultural activities.
In North India, Vijayadashami is celebrated in honor of Rama, and many theatrical performances that tell the Ramayana and Ramlila are hosted in the historically important Hindu cities of Ayodhya, Varanasi, Vrindavan, Almora, Satna, and Madhubani. Additionally, large statues of Ravana are burnt on this day to honor the triumph of Lord Rama over Ravana.
Natyalaya School of Dance is hosting a Vijayadashami celebration on October 7th from 6-8 pm at the studio where all students are welcome to join us for prayers and can bring prasad in the form of flowers and fruits! Vijayadashami is an auspicious day to practice your art or work and is also considered a good day to start new lessons or gain a new teacher.