About Us

The academy consists of students from grades 1-12 and adults. The students are trained in Nrtta (dance movement) and abhinaya (narrative expression) of Bharata Natyam. Simultaneously, the students take lessons on the cultural history of India, Bharata Natyam and its significance, the language of gestures and movements, Indian mythology, and other classical dance forms. The syllabus provides an understanding of the broader context of Bharata Natyam while situating it within the larger realm of Indian performing arts.

Vrindavan follows the Kalakshetra style of Bharata Natyam instruction. The initial period of training involves learning all of the basic steps (adavus) or movement patterns. Intermediate level students are introduced to traditional items in the Bharata Natyam repertoire which is further expanded at the advanced level. The training gives equal importance to movement and communicative aspects of Bharata Natyam. The end of the academic year is marked by the annual recital where the students get to perform an item. During the course of the year, senior students get the opportunity to perform at local venues as well.

Students are also introduced to folk dances of India on an as needed basis.

About Bindu Shankar

Bindu Shankar received her Dip. and P.G. Diploma in Bharata Natyam from Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai, India. Bindu is also a Ph.D in Art History from the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. She pursued her dissertation research on dance imagery in South Indian temples and studied the relationship between the temple tradition and the dance tradition through the 108- karana sculptural program. Bindu Shankar is also a two time recepient of the Telly Award (bronze) for her solo dance performance in the educational film “ Bridge to the Gods” and “ Dances of the Gods”, produced by Claire Soares of Sahomi Productions.

Bindu Shankar has presented lectures and demonstrations Indian art and dance at several venues including the NDEO (National Dance Education Organization) conference at Long Beach, Dance department at Stanford Univerisity at California, Dallas Museum of Art, Crow Collection of Asian Art in Dallas, University of North Texas at Denton and the Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Bringing together her academic training in Bharata Natyam along with her scholarship in Indian Art, Bindu’s dance instruction at Vrindavan addresses intellectual and comprehensive aspects of Bharata Natyam.

Bindu aims to make Vrindavan a premier institution for learning and understanding the form and function of the visual arts of India, specifically, Bharata Natyam. She hopes to present the depth and richness of their content and instill in the student a knowledge and scholarship that they will cherish and transmit as they graduate and move along.