Bharatanatyam classes in London are concentrated in the north-west, with schools in Harrow, Wembley and Kingsbury, and also in Sutton and at the Bhavan in West Kensington. Several take children from age 4 or 5.
Bharatanatyam is a classical dance of Tamil Nadu in South India and one of the eight classical dance forms recognised in India. It grew out of the temple and court dance traditions of the south and was revived and codified in the twentieth century, when institutions such as Kalakshetra in Chennai gave it a formal syllabus.
A dance is made of three elements. Nritta is pure movement, with fast, precise footwork and sharp, geometric lines. Nritya adds expression, with hand gestures (mudras) and facial expression that tell a story. Natya is the dramatic element. Dancers work in a half-sitting position called aramandi, with bent knees and turned-out feet, to Carnatic (South Indian classical) music, and wear ankle bells.
Training builds on a fixed set of basic steps called adavus, and students normally progress through grades or years of study. The traditional graduation is the arangetram, a first full solo recital that is the formal debut of a student.
Bharatanatyam and Kathak are both classical Indian dance forms and are often taught by the same schools, but they are different traditions.
Use the map below to find studios near you, or filter by area and audience to jump straight to our curated list of the best-rated Bharatanatyam studios in London further down the page.
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Bharatanatyam, Kathak
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Bharatanatyam, Bollywood, Contemporary & 1 more style
Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Contemporary
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Bharatanatyam, Contemporary
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Bharatanatyam
Holding the half-sitting aramandi position builds strong thighs, hips and core, and the upright upper body trains posture.
Adavus and sequences of hand gestures must be learned exactly and repeated, which trains coordination, memory and concentration.
Dancers work with the rhythm cycles (<em>tala</em>) of Carnatic music, and Kalaimanram teaches Carnatic music alongside its Bharatanatyam classes.
Facial expression and gesture teach you to tell a story without words, which carries over to any performance style.
Navya School of Dance names its levels Natya Buds (beginner), Natya Tarang (intermediate) and Natya Kalaa (advanced), and Kalaimanram offers Bharatanatyam practical and theory examinations.
Classes connect you with a wide community of students and families in the Tamil and wider South Asian diaspora, and with the stories and music behind the dance.
The Bhavan asks new students to attend an Open (beginners) class where the teacher assesses their level, and Navya School of Dance has a beginner level, Natya Buds.
Lingeshwara Natyalaya and School of Bharathakala take students from age 4, and Srishti from age 5. The Bhavan has Open classes for ages 8 to 12.
Navya School of Dance says it teaches kids, teens and adults, and Lingeshwara Natyalaya says there is no maximum starting age. The Bhavan has a 13+ Open class.
The Bhavan offers a three-year Diploma in Bharatanatyam with a Post-Diploma programme of two more years, and Kalaimanram runs Bharatanatyam examinations.
Ballet, contemporary and kathak dancers take Bharatanatyam to build leg strength, lines and expressive technique.
Srishti offers Karnatik vocal alongside dance, and Kalaimanram teaches Carnatic music as well.
The densest cluster is in Harrow. Srishti, founded in 1991 and led by Nina Rajarani MBE, teaches Bharatanatyam, kathak and Karnatik vocal at Harrow Arts Centre in Hatch End. Kalaimanram teaches in Harrow and Watford, with Bharatanatyam examinations and Carnatic music, and its listing is near Rayners Lane.
In Brent, Navya School of Dance teaches kids, teens and adults in Wembley, near Wembley Central. Sarjan Nartan Academy teaches Bharatanatyam on weekdays at Kenton Methodist Church in Harrow, at the Father O'Callaghan Centre in Kingsbury and at the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Barnet. School of Bharathakala teaches in the Kalakshetra style from age 4.
Elsewhere, Lingeshwara Natyalaya teaches Basic to Advanced levels on Monday evenings and at weekends at the Scout Hall in Sutton, and The Bhavan runs Open classes and a Diploma in West Kensington, near Barons Court. See the West London and South West London guides for more studios.
Bharatanatyam is normally taught in graded levels. Lingeshwara Natyalaya runs Basic, Junior, Senior and Advanced levels (Monday 5:30pm to 8:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday), Navya School of Dance runs Natya Buds, Natya Tarang and Natya Kalaa, and the Bhavan has Open classes and a three-year Diploma with exams at the end of the summer term. Students can sit examinations at Kalaimanram.
None of these schools publishes fees on the pages we checked, so contact the school for current rates (Navya School of Dance lists 10% off for new sign-ups and a free trial class). Training is a long-term commitment, so choose a teacher whose style, such as Kalakshetra, suits you. For one-to-one coaching ask about private dance lessons.
Wear comfortable, stretchy trousers or leggings that let you bend your knees fully and a fitted top so the teacher can see your posture. Hair should be tied back. Classes are usually danced barefoot.
Bharatanatyam practice dress (a kurta and salwar or a stitched pleated skirt) and ankle bells (salangai) are bought later, on your teacher's advice. Costume is only needed for performances and exams, so do not buy anything before your first class.
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