TEACHING

Amrita’s talks and workshops on dance have an interactive and informative format and appeal to a wide range of audiences including even those uninitiated to dance. Amrita passionately conducts these sessions in an effort to enthuse adults and children to better appreciate the nuances of the art form.

Workshops on classical dance for adults and children previously designed and executed by Amrita Lahiri

Joy of Movement

Five session Workshop on Indian Classical Dance for children age 7-13 (Each session is of duration one hour) A fun introductory workshop experiencing the joy of movement in Indian classical dance, with Kuchipudi dancer Amrita Lahiri, for children age 7-13. Participants are encouraged to dance the steps, mudras and expressions, and ask questions, in order to kindle a deeper interest in the classical dances of India. Each session will include watching and learning a short dance that will be performed in the final session. Each session will also highlight a different aspect of classical Indian dance- mudras, taalam/music, abhinaya, costume.

Sannidhi – a Workshop on 7 dance Styles of India

An interactive introduction to Indian classical dance (originally conceived and conducted with Parwati Dutta at NCPA) 2 sessions of 2 hours each This workshop offers an interactive and fun way to educate yourself and your children about the nuances of classical Indian dance. Is Kathak the same as Kathakali? Is Kuchipudi from the Northeast? What is the difference between Odissi and Mohiniattam? If these are questions you never had a chance to ask, this workshop will give you the answers, and help you delve deeper into the specific details of each of India’s beautiful classical dance forms. Through this workshop, children and adults try the steps, learn the mudras, the stories and history of the dance forms, costume, and the specific distinguishing features of each dance style.

Dancing Sculptures

For children age 7-13 (can be modified for other age groups) One session, duration 2.5 hours Mudras, body positions, and mythological symbols are some of the shared features of classical dance and classical Indian sculpture. This workshop decodes both- dance and sculpture- by explaining the stories and symbols that are key to understanding them. Interactive and informative, participants are encouraged to engage with both-dance and sculpture- by discussing the stories, recognizing symbols, and trying the dance and mudras. Workshop originally designed and conducted for Museum Rietberg, Zurich, and later Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghralaya (formerly Prince of Wales Museum) in Mumbai.

Amrita has travelled in many rural areas of India presenting workshops and performances particularly for children. These include villages in Rajasthan, Chhatisgarh, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. The response from children who have no exposure to classical dance is immediate enthusiasm. Rural initiatives are a priority for Amrita who feels that these experiences not only enrich the students, but also the dancer, and help to keep this art form relevant, accessible, and dynamic.