WORKSHOPS / MASTERCLASSES / LECTURE DEMONSTRATIONS
A potpourri of colourful, insightful and diverse dancers and musicians present at the Nava Swara (an emergence of fresh expression, the blossoming of young talent, and the continuity of tradition through renewal)
Pulse of the Sacred Drum – A Masterclass by Vid. Patri Satish Kumar
Experience the vibrant heartbeat of rhythm in this special Mridangam Masterclass by the acclaimed percussion maestro Patri Satish Kumar. Dive into the Pulse of the Sacred Drum as he unveils the beauty of rhythm, technique, and spiritual expression that lie at the core of this ancient instrument.
All mridangam and percussion practitioners aged 8 and above are warmly encouraged to join as participants, while music students, enthusiasts, and rasikas are invited to be part of this enriching session as observers. An inspiring prelude to the Shantanand Festival of Arts 2025, this evening promises to awaken the rhythm within you. Join the Masterclass now.
BREATH OF DANCE – A Bharatanatyam Lecture Demonstration by MAVIN KHOO
“To dance is not just an art—it is a way of seeing the world. When movement becomes your language, the world around you shifts seismically. You no longer see lines, but arcs; not shapes, but bodies in space. Mathematics becomes rhythm, geography is the contours of the body, and history is written in the steps we take. The ordinary is extraordinary, because every moment, every angle, every breath carries the potential of a dance. When you live in the flow of movement, the world moves with you, and everything you encounter becomes a part of your choreography.”
Mavin demonstrates his approach to learning and absorbing dance, focusing on his expertise in Bharatanatyam. Join in now to discover how this can enhance your bharatanatyam presentation.
BEYOND THE NOTES – STORIES OF SONG AND SELF – CHITRA POORNIMA
Music is sound, notes, tempos, rhythm and melody. When all that exists, but is blurred out of focus; when there is mastery in all these elements, but they are left in the background, a true story emerges, raw with emotion. It is the story of the innermost confines of the heart, and when it is transmitted, it reverberates and travels across the furthest reaches known to man – it travels from soul to soul.
Chitra Poornima implores her senses to explore music and song beyond its skeletal shell, and shares with us how to seek the innermost beauty of Indian music. Join us now as wer lookforward to experiencing the journey.
FIRE IN THE FEET – BN MASTERCLASS – PRITAM DAS
What is in the stamping of the feet? What of those extensions? Does posture really play a big part?
Pritam Das breaks down the basics of Bharatanatyam dance movements to its roots, shakes it clean, and builds it up again.
Rediscover your fire in your feet by joining this masterclass
STRINGS IN INFINITY – VEENA WORKSHOP – RAMANA BALACHANDRAN
Each note strummed, each syllable sung, can reflect in infinite colours and emotions. When patterns emerge from these notes and verse, they branch into even greater permutations and combinations of colour.
Ramana takes us on a path of musical humility – seeking the Great Unknown – one strum at a time.
Be part of this rare opportunity to learn from a young maestro — register now and let your inner strings find their infinity.
A DANCERS’ BODY CONDITIONING WORKSHOP – PRITHVI NAYAK
My Body, Thy Temple – Each dancer has an obligation to nurture their body as a divine vessel, an holy instrument, in order to propitiate the divine through their dance.
Prithvi Nayak demonstrates the methods in which every dancer, irrespective of genre, should strengthen, condition and maintain the joints and muscles of their bodies in order to achieve maximum range, agility and strength when they dance.
Join this transformative workshop and learn to honour your body — the sacred temple through which your art flows.
RAGA UNVEILED – A HINDUSTANI MUSIC LECTURE DEMONSTRATION – KUMAR KARTHIGESU
The Indian raga has long been a mystery to the uninitiated ear – haunting and captivating – beautiful, yet, maddeningly hard to deconstruct and understand. Each artist has their own nuances and personalities to contribute into a raga – so how can we reach any universality in this system?
Kumar attempts to find a common understanding of ragas in a simple, yet, comprehensive approach – through stories, examples and analogies.
Discover the heart of Hindustani music — where knowledge meets experience, and every listener becomes a learner.
GRACE OF THE NUSANTARA – MALAY DANCE WORKSHOP – ASK DANCE COMPANY
Tarian Nusantara refers to the stylised dance forms from the various Malaysian communities in the Malay archipelago. Most of these dance form associate or originate from ancient theatre practise, which combine dance, acting, vocals, instrumental music, elaborate costumes and narration.
ASK Dance Company takes us on a reveal of the different movements and styles these dance forms offer.
Let your movements echo the heritage of the Nusantara — join this workshop and dance to the pulse of tradition.
GRACE OF THE NUSANTARA – MALAY DANCE WORKSHOP – ASK DANCE COMPANY
Tarian Nusantara refers to the stylised dance forms from the various Malaysian communities in the Malay archipelago. Most of these dance form associate or originate from ancient theatre practise, which combine dance, acting, vocals, instrumental music, elaborate costumes and narration.
ASK Dance Company takes us on a reveal of the different movements and styles these dance forms offer.
Let your movements echo the heritage of the Nusantara — join this workshop and dance to the pulse of tradition.
Join our Workshops, Masterclasses, and Lecture Demonstrations at the Shantanand Festival of Arts 2025 — where learning meets inspiration, and every session opens new doors to artistic discovery. Whether you’re a practitioner, student, or art lover, there’s something here to awaken the artist within.
