Siddhi Dance Academy
Siddhi Dance academy is committed to nurturing the next generation of creative minds and spread the joy of dancing . We enable students to express and explore their thoughts, beliefs, and emotions.
Siddhi means mastery. The pursuit of mastery can motivate one to work hard with perseverance. Siddhi aims to be that motivation for students to set their individual goals and do their Sadhana/practice.
Comprehensive Curriculum
Founded in the year 2016, we offer a comprehensive dance curriculum for students ages five and above, our institute is committed to fostering creativity while instilling humanitarian thoughts.
While the primary genre of instruction is Bharatanatyam, workshops in other Dance forms, Music, and Theatre are offered for well-rounded dance education.
History of Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam is dance form that originated in South India. Although, the techniques and terminologies in Bharatanatyam can be traced back to Natya Shastra (200 BCE to 200 CE), the beauty of the form is that it's constantly changing and evolving to suit the society.
It is important to note that this dance form was appropriated from the community of hereditary artists and this history of oppression and appropriation is often altered and even masked to fit the narrative of the privileged.
Elements of Bharatanatyam
The name Bharatanatyam is an acronym for Bha-"Bhava" (emotion), Ra-"Raga" (melody) and Ta-"Tala"(rhythm) to indicate the three important elements of natyam (dance).
Creating beauty through movements and dynamic energy through rhythmic footwork, Bharatanatyam also serves as a tool for expression through mind, body, and soul. The body moves in geometric patterns with sharp lines and angles, which are also interspersed with graceful fluid like movements.
Training
We train the body so that, from head to toe each and every part is active in controlled motion. The mind constantly calculates the tala/rhythm counts, keeping the memory active, and simultaneously embodying various characters and portraying different emotions.
It is a discipline that doesn't come overnight. One has to have patience and should work very hard with determination in order to experience it fully. Once the art is mastered, it is a blissful experience to dance, which in turn elevates the soul.
Teachers
Surabhi Bharadwaj
Founder| Artistic Director | Teacher
Surabhi is a seasoned Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer, trained under eminent Gurus in India including Sri. KM Raman, Smt. Radha Sridhar and Guru B Bhanumati. She studied Karanas under Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam and Smt. Nirupama Rajendra. She holds an MFA in Bharatanatyam and an MFA in Dance: Design & Production.
Surabhi has won accolades through her performances across India, the USA, Europe, and the Middle East. She is an Empanelled Artist of ICCR, Government of India, and is recognized as a graded artist of Doordarshan (Indian National Broadcasting Channel).
Surabhi enjoys teaching and she holds high aspirations for her students. Her education and her experience working as the Principal Dancer in two leading Bharatanatyam companies in India (Punyah Dance Company and Raadha Kalpa Dance Company) have given her an edge in conceptualizing and executing dance productions.
Varsha Vinod
A Young and Dynamic Dancer and Teacher
Varsha began her training in Bharatanatyam at a very young age under the tutelage of Guru Smt Chitra Vinod and since she moved to the US in 2018 she is continuing to learn under Guru Smt. Surabhi Bharadwaj. Varsha has completed Bharatanatyam Madhyama, Dwitiya, Pariksha, exams with distinction, conducted by Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, in Karnataka. Varsha is also trained in Classical music and is an Honor’s Roll student pursuing Neuro Biology, a subject that she is passionate about.
Varsha not only shines as a student but also as a teacher. She has been teaching 40+ students at Siddhi Dance Academy for the last 2 years and has laid a strong foundation in their dance education. She is building on her choreographic skills at SDA and was selected to showcase her work at the Ankura Choreographic showcase organized by Bharata Dance and Allied Arts. She has performed at notable venues both in India and USA and aims to continue practicing and performing no matter what part of the world she is in!