In my creative aging sessions in NYC, I have the privilege of working with individuals from many countries, speaking a variety of languages. Hence, there is the possibility to exchange ideas and talk about our history, childhoods, and countries, and Bharatanatyam is an excellent medium to do so.

As we were learning a piece called Mangalam, we started talking about the feeling of auspiciousness, of being in balance, when everything is as it should be. At the YM & YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood, a participant shared the Hebrew word "beseder".

This is the power of Bharatanatyam for creative aging. The ideas and themes may be abstract but are universal it gives us a chance to relate to others, share our language and culture, and is the perfect venue for a rich exchange of ideas and emotions.
We have all felt that the world is as it should be when everything is “ok”. Bharatanatyam provides a systematic way to think about these themes and provides scaffolding that facilitates structured dialog and sharing.

How would you describe a state of balance in your language? 

Special thanks to Sminu Achary for her help on this article. 

I presented a poster entilted "Bharatanatyam for creative aging" at the 11th Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD). The theme of the conference was "The Midpoint of the SDGs: Global and Local Progress & Challenges”. Below is the poster I presented and the certificate. 

In Sept 23, I spoke at the National Organization for Arts in Health Conference about my work in Bharatanatyam and creative aging at their annual meeting in Cleveland. All thanks to my gurus for guidance and support! 

Below are some images from my workshop.
Picture credit: Randy Miles and Shiela Fontanive

Video credit of Mangalam: Shiela Fontanive

In addition to being an incredibly complex dance form, Bharatanatyam gives us an opportunity to engage with the dance, and by extension, with the world around us in a multitude of ways.

In my sessions, participants learn how to keep talam (rhythm), sing, and chant in addition to the movements. We learn the rituals of the dance form, words and their meaning of songs or poems, and different interpretations. Through this, we learn to appreciate music, language, symbolism, philosophy, and later, the color and design of the stage and props, and the color and texture of costumes.
​
By continuing my own learning as a lifelong process, I can bring the gift of these various skills to my participants in NYC and beyond. All gratitude is to my teachers – my gurus who have and continue to guide me in dance, music, and Sanskrit – for allowing and enabling me to see the detail and beatify in our traditional art forms and in our language.
The image is a still from one of my sessions at India Home where I am so lucky to work with incredible seniors who are interested, engaged, and always want to learn and explore more!

Starting July 2023, I am proud to partner with Encore Community Services to bring Bharatanatyam to seniors in NYC. "Encore has provided seniors with a range of caring and quality services to help them live independent and dignified lives."
Below is a video of what participants can expect in these sessions, the adaptations I will use, and the benefits to participants. 

An effective way to participants in this rich form of learning is by highlighting the universality of Bharatanatyam.  

Building on the universality of Bharatanatyam is imagery that includes animals and nature. In sessions with older adults, we typically come up with new hastas to describe animals, birds, and bugs around us. This sense of discovery is not only fun but also helps give participants autonomy and fosters creativity. It also helps us connect deeply with our local nature.

Most importantly, it places Bharatanatyam not merely as a series of movements to learn, but as a form that fosters discovery due to (and not despite) the structure created!

How could you show a squirrel?!

Bharatnatyam is an incredibly complex dance form! However, we can use this complexity to our advantage and to benefit our older adult populations. Layering skills ensure that all participants have something to work on, no matter if they are new to Bharatanatyam, or have been learning for a while.

In this video, I show how we can layer skills using the imagery of elephants. Seated, in a count of four, we can sway from side to side evoking the stability and sure-footedness of elephants, and then, with the hasta “Arala”, we can show its ears. These movements​ also make effective use of our gaze.

Next, we can use “Mukula” hasta to show the trunk of an elephant as it is trying to get a piece of fruit (above), or water (below). The effect of the trunk can be created with the entire arm or the hands. We can also emphasize that the impact of the trunk can be created with the eyes, which is just as beautiful and perhaps more nuanced as compared to the other options.

In previous Vichaar posts, we looked at the idea of complexity as it applies to science and dance. We talked about how the brain processes complex information and makes decisions in the face of uncertainty. We also looked at reductionism as one way by which scientists study complex things.
 
Bharatanatyam is ideal for older adults, as we can use this inherent complexity to our advantage! This means layering skills that participants can work on, no matter if they are new to Bharatanatyam, or have been learning for a while. In a group setting, layering skills also gives participants an opportunity to show and teach one another, which builds camaraderie and connections in the groups.

In the next post, we will see an example of layering skills using the example of elephants. I chose elephants because of their stability, and because baby elephants bring up images of playfulness and fun! 

Bharatanatyam is a unique dance form that combines a multitude of aspects such as percussion, storytelling, narration, hand gestures, and facial expressions. How can we use these specific aspects of Bharatanatyam as tools for older adults to further express their own creativity? Bharatanatyam is so much more than exercise – it actively engages the body, mind, and spirit. How can we share this gift of Bharatanatyam, its depth and nuances, with our aging populations and enable a sense of accomplishment?

The ideas I will present over the next few posts will talk about the specific ways in which I have tried to make Bharatanatyam adaptable and enjoyable to all, no matter their age or physical capabilities. We will look at how exactly we can go about layering skills, using the powers of observation and visualization, adapting movements to be done seated, and using our gaze effectively. In doing so, I get to honor my gurus and the countless hours they have spent on me and my dance practice and pass this lineage to others.

We know that old age can be associated with falls, which many times, can be rather fatal. In fact, even falls that are short in duration can be deadly. Here, we can see my elder dancers at the YM&YWHA, Nagle Avenue demonstrating a slokam on Lord Shiva. After a few months of working together, they feel comfortable balancing on one foot!