Ponnu Sanjeev
What Ponnu Sanjeev did here
Dance Together Day: Celebrating a New Milestone
Today, students from across our batches came together for Dance Together Day. Students of different ages and levels met, danced and celebrated as one community. Students aged 40 and above danced alongside children as young as three years old, making it special to see generations sharing the same dance space. All four teachers were present, and many students came dressed for the occasion. Some students were unable to attend, but those who came brought plenty of joy and energy to the day. We also celebrated a special milestone for students who were ready to progress to the next level: wearing the chilanka (dance bells) for the first time. Teachers tied the bells for the students, and they danced wearing them. This step reflects the students’ growing confidence and their ability to maintain the talam (rhythm) without losing the beat. The day felt like a joyful meetup as students from different batches and age groups shared the dance space. Events like this encourage students to keep learning, give them a chance to connect with one another, and create a happy place to come together through dance
Experiencing Rhythm Beyond Sound
We began a new batch for Deaf and hard-of-hearing children. This initiative has been in preparation for the past few months, shaped by our years of experience as dancers and teachers in the field of Indian dance. We believe that Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam can offer meaningful opportunities for those children to explore rhythm, movement, coordination and expression when taught through accessible methods. Two teachers facilitated the session. While one of us demonstrated the steps, the other gently guided the child's hand to clap along with the rhythm. We were delighted to see how well she understood the rhythm, recognised the gaps between beats, and responded to changes in speed. Gradually, she began copying the movements and soon started performing the steps independently. By the end of the session, she had learnt five Nattadavu sequences, the basic movement units of Bharatanatyam. Throughout the session, we focused on visual demonstrations, clear movement cues, repetition, patience, individual attention and encouragement, allowing the child to learn at her own pace. This was our first session with the children. One child attended the class, and three more children have registered for the upcoming sessions. This beginning has strengthened our belief that, with appropriate teaching methods and support, classical dance can become an accessible and enriching space for Deaf and hard-of-hearing children to explore movement, rhythm and self-expression.