Bharata Kalanjali

Sharing a few moments from last week’s annual class presentations.

Students from our batches of Naatyam and Sangeetham came together to present what they have been working on over the past year.

An evening dedicated to the students' hard work over the year, a chance for them to go on stage and shine with parents, family, and friends watching and cheering them on.

The presentations concluded with a special performance, “Shatripu” by senior faculty Uttiya Barua and Shivadas Rajan.

Here is a look back at the Meet and Greet event at the Taneira store as part of Jharna 5.

Held in collaboration with Taneira ( ), one of our festival patrons, the evening brought together artists and audiences in an informal setting for a conversation with the Dhananjayans.

Swipe for a few glimpses from the event.

Jharna: A New Horizon continues to extend the festival beyond performance, creating space for deeper engagement through learning, exchange, and shared practice.

By bringing back former Jharna artists as facilitators, the workshops strengthen an evolving community, where artists return not just to perform, but to teach, share, and grow together.

Here’s a throwback into Weekend 2 that unfolded through four immersive workshops, each offering a distinct approach to movement and practice:

- Anil Iyer - Sculpting Imagery: An exploration of spatial design and dynamic contrast, guiding dancers to think beyond steps and shape movement into vivid, sculptural images.

- Purvadhanashree - Befriending Vilasini: A nuanced journey into abhinaya, approaching the nayika with sensitivity and depth through layered, introspective exploration.

- Jayakhavi Gautham - Anga Smoothie: A holistic approach to training, focusing on balance and fluency by engaging all aspects of Bharatanatyam through structured, sustainable practice.

- Nirali Samani - UnBasic: Revisiting foundational movement, breaking it down, and rebuilding it with awareness, clarity, and refined musicality.

Jharna: A New Horizon set out to extend the festival beyond performance, creating space for deeper engagement through learning, exchange, and shared practice.

By bringing back former Jharna artists as facilitators, the workshops strengthened an evolving community, where artists return not just to perform, but to teach, share, and grow together.

Here’s a throwback into Weekend 1 that unfolded through four immersive workshops, each offering a distinct entry point into dance:

- Subashri Sashidharan - Layam Unveiled: Unpacking laya through Pancha Jathis and adavus, building rhythmic clarity across nritta and abhinaya.

- Dr. Ramya Suresh - The Geometry of Grace: Exploring lines, angles, and balance to understand how structure shapes precision and ease in movement.

- Dr. Himanshu Srivastava - A Poem Named Vrindavan: Working through text, imagery, and bhava to develop layered, expressive storytelling.

- Meenakshi Grama - Anvesha: A curiosity-led process using improvisation and reflection to discover new movement pathways.

Photo credits:

Over the past year at Bharata Kalanjali, our space has been home to a range of events, each one bringing something different, thoughtful, and engaging.

It is always exciting to watch the space transform, adapting to the needs and vision of each artist, organiser, and idea that comes through.

From intimate gatherings to dynamic performances, every event has left its own imprint.

- 8s by Deep Design (a solo dance drama),
- Divyarpanam by Sunanda Nair & ensemble
- Playball by Srishti Dance Creations
- Swara and Saaz by Vandana Srinivasan & Girijashankar Sundaresan
- Spacial Dynamics workshop by Bernard Thiry

Sharing a few glimpses of what the space has held, moments that reflect its versatility and the many ways it continues to be used.

If you want to conduct events at our space, reach out to [email protected]

Thank you to our wonderful audiences for showing up each day and supporting every artist who took the stage at Jharna Edition 5. Your presence and encouragement mean so much to the artists and to everyone who brings this festival to life.

Many of you also took the time to explore the stalls at the venue and enjoy the delicious offerings from our food partner, Paati Veedu, adding to the vibrant festival atmosphere.

Jharna continues to grow a little more each year, and that journey is only possible because of your continued love and support.

See you at Jharna Edition 6.

[chennai, jharna, dance festival, jharna festival, bharatanatyam dancers in chennai, classical dance in india, bharatanatyam dancers in india, indian dance festivals, classical dance festivals]

Jharna Edition 5 is now available for ONLINE STREAMING on Tikkl.

This edition brings together 8 compelling performances, featuring 4 Jharna Artists alongside 4 guest presentations. From two powerful group works and an evocative theatre production to a special solo by a Jharna Artist from our previous edition, the program offers a rich and varied artistic experience.

Watch them now through the link in bio, don’t miss out!

[chennai, jharna, dance festival, jharna festival, bharatanatyam dancers in chennai, classical dance in india, bharatanatyam dancers in india, indian dance festivals, classical dance festivals]