Our Journey and Philosophy: Shaping Belly Dance in Bangalore
From our first show in 2017 to building a city-wide community, see how we’ve grown. We don't just teach steps; we explore history, emotion, and storytelling through movement.
A look back at our first show, The RaS Project in 2017. This production explored the idea that bhava and rasa are universal, using Middle Eastern dance to tell the stories of the women of the Ramayana.
A recap of our beginnings in 2016-2017. We started with a course built around the concept of Bhava and Rasa, which became the seed for our storytelling approach to dance.
Highlights from 2018-2019, a period of immense growth. We staged our mammoth production "Safar-e-Raqs," began building our Indian Fusion repertoire, and I became a certified Datura 8 Elements Practitioner.
A recap of 2020-2024. The pandemic pushed us to embrace online education, which led to the formation of The Nrityakosh Company and our expansion to multiple locations across Bangalore.
A montage of our work as a school. Our mission is to engage with the community through our productions, keeping the essence of the dance form alive while making it enjoyable for our audience.
This month marks 7 years of Nrityakosh. From a fledgling school in 2017 to a team of instructors across the city with 8 full length productions, we are so proud of how far we have come.
I am thrilled to be featured as an artist for The Bellydance Collective Season 2. It is an honor to be recognized for my work in Middle Eastern dances and our school's contribution to the belly dance movement in Bangalore.
About this collection
We are not just a dance school; we are a performance house. When you join us, you are stepping into a space where every movement is intentional. Whether you are interested in our Indian Fusion technique or want to be part of our performance labs, you will see that we prioritize 'Bhava' and 'Rasa', our way of ensuring you are not just dancing, but storytelling. If you have seen our productions like 'Safar-e-Raqs' or 'Papusza', you know that we value creative depth over simple repetition.
Building a School, Shaping a Culture
Nrityakosh began in 2017 as a response to a landscape where belly dance was often treated purely as a fitness module. We wanted to shift the conversation. Founded by Debapriya Das, our school was built to treat Oriental dance as a structured, historical art form. We started with the RaS Project, a production that explored the stories of women from the Ramayana, setting the tone for the storytelling-focused approach we still use today.
The Nrityakosh Approach
We believe in creating 'thinking dancers.' Our methodology integrates:
- Bhava and Rasa: We design our choreographies around specific emotions and sentiments, moving beyond the physical to the expressive.
- Indian Fusion: We blend traditional Middle Eastern vocabulary with Kathak, Jazz, and contemporary movements to create a unique language that resonates with our audience.
- Performance Lab: This is our community initiative. It is a space for students, budding dancers, and professionals to present their works-in-progress and refine their performance skills in a collaborative environment.
Growing Across Bangalore
What started as a small course has grown into a city-wide presence. From our primary studio in Koramangala to our locations in HSR Layout, JP Nagar, and Indira Nagar, we have focused on building a sustainable ecosystem for dance. The pandemic challenged us to pivot to hybrid and online formats, which allowed us to connect with a wider community, eventually leading to the formal establishment of The Nrityakosh Company in 2021.
Our journey is ongoing. Whether it is a weekend intensive, a progressive 4-week course, or a mammoth production like 'Scheherazade’s Web', our goal remains the same: to foster a warm, inclusive, and rigorous environment where every student can find their own voice.
Nrityakosh
At Nrityakosh, we believe belly dance is a language, not just a workout. We are here to help you find your own voice, whether you are a beginner taking your first steps or a dancer looking to join our community. Come, dance with us and explore the artistry behind the movement.
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