Shambavi School of Dance

The Gurukul

Traditionally, Indian dance education followed the Guru Shisya Parampara where the pace of study was usually based on the student’s capacity. The gurukul (guru’s home) was considered an ideal setting because the student had the opportunity to learn one on one at his or her own pace and also observe the guru’s process of creating, living and working. The home setting also helped develop a relationship, which perpetuated a sense of devotion for the teacher and to the art form. All the dance legends, who are the torch bearers of the Classical dance forms, have had their training under the Guru Shishya Parampara.

Globalization, mass immigration, advancing technology, faster communication, and easy travel connections have influenced the political, social and cultural life of people all over the world. The field of entertainment and the arts are no exception. With the establishment of formal schools of dance, students are trained in classroom settings for a specific time period following a structured curriculum, and the Gurukul system is slowly fading. Also since the present day students are pursuing professional and other academic interests alongside their dance training they have limited time for training and the quality and output is not satisfying.

Shambhavi School of Dance was founded by me in 1993, with a vision to keep alive the Guru Shishya Parampara, the system which gave me the strength to be what I am today. The training methodologies, the oral tradition, the repertoire we follow along with lessons in Yoga, Music, Choreography, Rhythm is with a holistic approach. At the same time, keeping in view the changing times and being flexible to adapt new techniques in dance education along with the strength of the Guru Shisya Parampara.

My vision is to create legends and not just artists!