Category: “A Journey to Bharat through Natya”

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"A Journey to Bharat through Natya" BloggerSaathi

Bridging the Neurodivide: Thinking with Circles

A Production of Ananth’s Fold, Color, Talk

Why think about complex topics such as neurodiversity, neurodivergent individuals, inclusion, and bridging the neurodivide using only words? Building visual and tactile models clarifies ideas and helps us think and talk about our ideas. Have fun exploring ideas in different ways with visual and tactile tools.

I have been folding circles since 2007. I use Wholemovement, an approach developed by Bradford Hansen-Smith. I used to fold circles to create tetrahedrons, octahedrons, icosahedrons, Vector-Equilibrium Sphere, and many other interesting structures. After folding, I enjoyed coloring it. While some children like my cousin liked to fold many circles in a day, I folded one or two and spent time coloring.

Since I kept folding and coloring, my mother started organizing ideas on the circle creations. We used these foldables to think about different topics and to talk about our ideas.

See the video below and try folding!

https://youtu.be/FJ4VIetBbYg?si=pK7FDI93Ieogjawq


I enjoyed folding and coloring because
• It was relaxing
• I enjoy coloring
• I could learn better with visual and tactile tools

I did an entrepreneurship summer camp in 2014. I created the concept and logo for Fold, Color, Talk.

Bridging the Neurodivide

When my mother started preparing for her presentation on Bridging the Neurodivide, she asked me to fold a tetrahedron and then an icosahedon using four colors.

Tetrahedron

The first fold divides the circle into two parts. We used one side neurotypicals (NT) and another half to represent neurodivergent (ND). Once folded into a tetrahedron, the bottom two triangles represent NTs and NDs having experiences in environments that work best for them. As they learn in their own ways, different people (learners, parents, teachers, etc.) discover ways to bridge the neurodivide (triangle at the center). These discoveries enable them to bring NDs and NTs together in different environments.

Icosahedron

I used four tetrahedrons to create an icosahedron. The icosahedron can help us visualize the process of bridging the neurodivide more clearly.

Sustaining (green)

NDs and NTs have experiences in environments that work for them.

Initiating (yellow)

We initiate activities to bring these learners together.

Adapting (orange)

Students, teachers, parents and others adjust to changes

Extending (blue)

New activities and ways of bridging the neurodivide are discovered and implemented.

We have started tracking our progress in bridging the neuro divide using this Icosahedron.
Watch the video below to see how we are using it.

https://youtu.be/MBgGNUyc_oA?si=3tMUv05ISY9kR9wN


About Ananth
Ananth Raghunandan is a student ambassador for (Ramana Sunritya Aalaya) RASA and Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD). Ananth Raghunandan is doing a diploma in Bharatanatyam.

He enjoys folding circles and created Fold, Color, Talk with his mother Dr. Dasaratha Rama during an entrepreneurship camp.

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"A Journey to Bharat through Natya"

Why Should Neurodivergent Learners Explore Classical Dance?

Whole Body Movement and Communication through Indian Natya – 2

Last week, I started writing about whole body movement and communication through Indian natya. While we hear of many neurodivergent learners who sing, play musical instruments, draw, paint, etc., we do not hear much about their dancing. Further, we do not hear much about neurodivergent people and classical dance. One of the questions I am going to be exploring in this series of blog post is:

Why should neurodivergent learners explore classical dance?

Many neurodivergent individuals have significant motor challenges. I did too. When someone has motor challenges, we do not think of teaching them dance. Dr Masgutova, developer of the Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI), suggested that I learn dance. I started learning dance in September 2011.

I started my dance journey with hip hop and tap. When we were in Tirupati, I saw a Bharatanatyam performance for the first time and wanted to learn it. Once I started Bharatanatyam, I discovered that I enjoyed Bharatanatyam better than hip hop and tap. Bharatanatyam was taught in a very structured and systematic way which made it easier for me to learn.

Three components of Bharatanatyam lessons that make it easier for me learn the dance form are:
1. Adavus
2. Hastas
3. Bedas


Adavus: Adavus are structured patterns of movement that are the foundation of Bharatanatyam learning. When we start learning Bharatanatyam, we focus on the adavus. Adavus are movement patterns that are done to rhythm. We do the adavus to three speeds. We continue to practice adavus even when we become more experienced students.

Practicing these adavus makes it easy to learn different pieces because the choreography builds on these adavus.

View this playlist to see some lessons on adavus by my teacher Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh, senior faculty for learning (Ramana Maharshi Center for Learning).
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqFzR-vYU-ZilCqKnBaBpxrU_zzprOunQ&si=S_7_Xl5CbIbDIpUq

Hastas
Hastas are hand gestures. Hastas are a unique feature of Bharatanatyam training and performance. We use hand gestures and facial expressions for communicating emotions. In my diploma program, I am learning 52 hand gestures (28 single hand and 24 double hand gestures). Each hand gesture can be used in many ways. I am learning these 52 hastas and their usage.

In TAHD (Theater Arts for Holistic Development), storytelling is one of the tools that is combined in my dance class. We are taught stories for each hasta. This is a unique feature of my TAHD dance class. I did not do such stories when I was learning Bharatanatyam before my arangetram.

See The White Peacock Story and Robbers in Ramana Thatha’s ashram in my storytelling playlist

Watch the White Peacock story with the hasta here.
https://youtu.be/ytnZTB3PRz4?si=rqt6TPuobHciNhs2

Bedas

In addition to adavus and hastas, we also learn bedas. Bedas focus on movements of specific body parts. For example, three bedas that I have learned are:
1) Pada Bedas (movements of the feet)
2) Shiro Bedas (movements of the head)
3) Dhrishti Bedas (movements of the eyes)

These bedas are a systematic way to practice movements of specific body parts and to develop body awareness. For example, Pada Bedas make me more aware of foot positions and movements.
See a playlist of bedas videos here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqFzR-vYU-Zie54SRJJBqWDORT4K65lXx&si=VPY1h1_YbDLZvUlz

Classical dance has been a wonderful learning opportunity for me. I am grateful to my gurus Smt. Harija Sivakumar, Professor Kalakshetra Mohanan, and Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh for teaching me Bharatanatyam for many years. The structured and systematic way of learning and practice works well for me. Adavus, hastas, and bedas are three building blocks of Bharatanatyam. By practicing these building blocks regularly, I can learn the dance pieces more easily. I encourage neurodivergent students and their parents to explore classical dance.

Writing Techniques

In my blog posts, I will also mention the writing techniques that I used. Writing is a very important skill and I hope parents will explore these techniques with their children.
I used the five paragraph essay to write this blog post. I practiced this technique daily when I was learning grammar and writing using Shurley grammar.

Shurley Grammar Website
http://www.shurley.com

Celebrating my Birthday: The TAHD Way

On my last birthday in 2022, I narrated the story of The White Peacock on SpecialSaathi. That experience led to the development of my story of the month project and the Ananth’s Adventures Youtube channel.

I will be doing a session for SpecialSaathi on my birthday on December 2, 2023, 8 pm IST. Hope you will join the session on whole body movement and communication with Indian natya!


About Ananth
Ananth Raghunandan is a student ambassador for (Ramana Sunritya Aalaya) RASA and Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD). Ananth Raghunandan is doing a diploma in Bharatanatyam.


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"A Journey to Bharat through Natya" BloggerSaathi

Whole Body Movement and Communication through Indian Natya – 1

“A Journey to Bharat through Natya” by Ananth Raghunandan

Recently, I started my diploma in Bharatanatyam. I have been learning Bharatanatyam for over ten years and completed my arangetram (the first solo performance by a Bharatanatyam student after years of training) in 2020. I enjoy Bharatanatyam and want to continue learning and performing in the future.

Now, I am learning Bharatanatyam using a Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) approach. TAHD has five tools: 1) movement and dance, 2) music and rhythm, 3) storytelling, 4) drama, and 5) arts and crafts. TAHD gives more opportunities for movement. For example, I have also experienced movement through drama.

Movement includes any kind of movement or dance. It includes structured and
Unstructured movement. Walk, cooking, chores, dance, yoga, play, swimming, karate, sports etc.

The following are some benefits of dance for me:

– Relieves stress: I start my day with a daily walk. I do dance and theater activities throughout the day
– Creates enjoyment: Dance is enjoyable and I look forward to my dance lessons and practice.
– Builds strength: For example, when I practice a varnam for 20 – 30 minutes, I develop stamina.
– Improves sleep: Now that I have started dancing more because I started my diploma in Bharatanatyam, I am also sleeping better.
– Improves attention: My attention also improves when I do dance and theater throughout the day

Whole Body Movement and Communication through Indian Natya

According to TAHD, the purpose of movement is to

a) Understand one’s body at rest and in motion (body awareness)
In a classical dance form like Bharatanatyam, we develop body awareness in a systematic and structured way. The playlist below shows some examples of movements of different parts of the body such as feet (Pada Bedas), eyes (Drishti Bedas) etc.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqFzR-vYU-Zie54SRJJBqWDORT4K65lXx&si=59aA_Gwxl2d32_7P


b) Expression of feelings
In Bharatanatyam, we use movements to communicate feelings. For example, I have used movement of facial muscles to express joy, anger, disgust, fear etc. In addition to facial expressions, body posture and movements also communicate feelings. Here is a playlist of my recent performances
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqFzR-vYU-ZjsgY6SuF44eQ3XsMdmBQxL&si=UJ8Dj1jsJDQgB34m


c) Enhance Non- verbal communication
We use body movements, hand gestures and facial expressions in dance. This helps me practice nonverbal communication

d) To communicate and express oneself in various spaces
As compared to individual dance, it is more challenging to move in space in drama because we have to coordinate our movements and body positions with other characters. See a playlist of my theater performances below

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqFzR-vYU-ZikQkkzU2571oFZm7-Jv4cn&si=yRrx6BBpbEJHMgDN


e) Stillness
Stillness / pause is also a part of movement as it creates the right impact. Stillness also helps convey an experience sometimes.

I want to encourage neurodivergent learners to explore dance and Indian theater. There are many forms of dance in India but a structured classical form like Bharatanatyam works better for me.

Celebrating my Birthday: The TAHD Way

On my last birthday in 2022, I narrated the story of The White Peacock on SpecialSaathi. That experience led to the development of my story of the month project and the Ananth’s Adventures Youtube channel.

I will be doing a session for SpecialSaathi on my birthday on December 2, 2023. Hope you will join the session on whole body movement and communication with Indian natya!

About Ananth
Ananth Raghunandan is a student ambassador for (Ramana Sunritya Aalaya) RASA and Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD). Ananth Raghunandan is doing a diploma in Bharatanatyam.