Can one start dancing as an Adult?: Conversation series

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www.theraadhakalpamethod.com
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Many students often ask if they can begin training in Bharatanatyam as adults. These are my thoughts.
- Rukmini
The Raadha Kalpa Method is a comprehensive training program for Bharatanatyam devised by Rukmini Vijayakumar through her years of research on the mechanics of movement within the Bharatanatyam vocabulary. The philosophy of the training system lies in developing a neutral body and mind such that the dancer is able to be versatile and malleable within performance.
The program is primarily offered at the LshVa Studios, run by the Raadha Kalpa Dance company in Bangalore.
The online program is now offered on a streaming platform.
Subscribe to revitalise your Bharatanatyam and learn about alignment, injury prevention and developing strength, stamina, stability, articulation and imagination within your Bharatanatyam practise.
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@dancerukmini
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www.rukminivijayakumar.com

[@sangeetapatil8556]

Very true madam. It's really difficult. Then too, I am 50 yrs old now. I have joined Bharatnatyam class last yr. this is my 2nd year. I am very passionate about it. Doing my level best. Hope, I complete atleast 5 yrs.

[@VishalakshiRMaiya]

So inspiring..

[@vjvj3363]

Great hats off to you for your passion

[@jennysseconds7726]

Wow

[@myas-3995]

Really admire your commitment and resilience Sangeeta Ji. Keep going and keep shining! More power to you⭐️👍

[@goodvibesbroadcast4029]

Wonderful ,I m sure you will achieve your goal.your love for dancing will make things happen.good luck 🙏🕉️

[@uniPEG96]

I started dancing bharathanatyam at 33 years old and it has been a wonderful journey - I have been getting better and better at it. Maybe it s because I am physically strong and I have great stamina. I have no problem learning with and from kids. It took me some time before I let go my EGO and started learning the dance. Nothing is impossible

[@anusha9720]

From where are you learning?

[@mamtaprem7420]

I am 61 and I have started learning Bharatnatyam at this age... I am passionate to learn and not to look back... let's see how far I go at this age

[@piyush.911]

How is it going?

[@user-ho9wx8xc8g]

Ha!!!!! I send you appreciation that you have for yourself 🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁 may you find it everywhere dear.... Inspiration lives with you❤️💯🥳💋

[@shanthirajesh5367]

I m starting at 47, no expectations on myself and I hv requested my teacher not to hv any ,either . I m just loving the journey .....

[@Deepa0309]

I was wondering....now I have confidence...from such people as u.

[@gnanukrishna]

May I know your teacher's name?

[@sajusarah]

WoW, great

[@chitranshidhami9333]

Wow love your courage, m turning 30 and still wondering shall I or not! Soon may be. Happy journey.

[@poushalimaitra6323]

I am 48 and would be soon learning kathak

[@swathysreer4422]

This was so encouraging because I learnt Carnatic music as a child for 7 years starting from my preschool. But I couldn't continue due to some reasons and now I have started at 25yrs. This makes me get going in this path. I really wish to become a singer one day.

[@nikitha515]

Most honest answer I've come across for this question. 🙌

[@hometreat-yukthavlogs]

I am 32 years, i joined my bharathanatyam dance class after my second delivery, when my son was 8 months i joined. now almost 15 months completed. I have completed almost 10 basic adavus i can dance in all three speeds. but its very important to have daily practice minimum 30mins... if we miss practicing then its very difficult to regain that stamina... we can do it but practice practice practice more......... this is what my teacher says.

[@rcrimi08]

Wow. I am 32 now and I want to learn. This gives lots of inspiration

[@ponnithangamani9653]

Where are you? Where you are studying?

[@hometreat-yukthavlogs]

@@rcrimi08 i am located in UAE

[@sidd123patel5]

Omg , @ sparkling Star , our story is so similar. I started learning Bahratnatyam when my second child was 9 months and my age was then 31 , now I am 42 and still pursuing my passion for this beautiful art form. My guru passed away this year , she is always in my heart , and everytime I dance , she surfaces up in my memories. I had promised her I will keep dance alive in me until my body is fit so I resumed the practise with other girl from my dance class. I still miss my guru .

[@hometreat-yukthavlogs]

@@sidd123patel5 good really its divine art, enjoy and nourish it...

[@brascoperryjoe6425]

I was a Kathak dancer for 8 years and started when I was an infant, then there was long gap, recently I have started my Bharatnatyam lesson for 3 years at the age of 23, it's wonderful to learn dance, I love the enthusiasm of the art. ❤

[@latamaravi2509]

Im also going through the same thing but since in childhood I'm passionate for dance so...I started learning by own self without guru....and after sm time I got Guru for Kathak and i continue with" Tabla" n katgak but coz of job at another city I quit...and again I started on 2018 ...and Iws doing good, on it . but after 1 n half yr just before my of my exam and my first stage performance this pandemic happened, and again I started 2020 Feb and again it long rest....u don't kwn at to do with my passion to follow...can't able to practicing at all even hv lots of time ...but anthusiasum hs gone..its going difficult get back to start,.... I don't know Whr I hv to follow or not....

[@brascoperryjoe6425]

@21st നൂറ്റാണ്ടിലേക്ക് ഉള്ള ബസ്സ് hahaha, no! Ya, I used the infant, my bad, but about 2, I started, while in nursery..

[@pen64]

As a Western classical dancer, first of all, I am awed by this form of dance, particularly because it is so ancient. In my tradition, I was considered past my prime, basically in my mid-30’s. I began studying Japanese classical dance at age 50. My teacher was in her 70’s and still performing! I learned very quickly to manage my expectations and to enjoy the movement and the learning instead of worrying about getting onstage. It brings me so much joy! Thank you so much for all you do. These videos enrich my day! You are one of the best dancers I have ever seen, in any tradition 🙏🏻

[@payalratnakar3139]

Pranam mam💐 I m 39+ mother of two children, I m in the 5 th year of Bharatnatyam. My Guru is just like u Maa she alway teach me as her other young children . I m always trying my best . It is true at this age learning of classical dance is hard but it is possible so I m trying my best. Bless me Maa. Love u 🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@allualex8483]

Where are you learning..

[@jayanththerokr]

The way she put together the answer is amazing.

[@suchanasundar4462]

Needed to hear this. I learned when I was a child 6 - 12/13. Got back into it at 22. Now, going back at 31. Body is definitely not the same, but Life is a journey that keeps bringing me back to dance.

[@priyankareddy4582]

Wow.. truly brilliant answer. And this holds true when we begin to learn anything as an adult. Simple - Do as a child would do it. Fail a hundred times, start again at 101. Wonderful advice. Thank you so much 🙏

[@sreeharivc]

This is an answer that I had been searching for many years. Very elegant answer : Honest advice, and at the same time encouraging as well.

[@space1oddity]

I am 30 and learning Bharatanatyam. It's a wonderful journey, I have no regrets!

[@ardraprasad6756]

I start dance at the age 5. My parents hadn't compelled me for dance because they are artists. Dancing was my wish and now iam fulfilling. Now iam taking advanced bharathanatyam under sri. Parswanath upadhyay sir🙏🙏. Also i have a youtube channel🥰🥰.

[@gaurijoshi2992]

Ma’am you have given a very practical answer to the question. Also you have given the solution that at least 6 years must pass for an adult as well to actually start performing better. So patience is definitely the key in this art form! Love you performances!!!

[@s.f.creators6126]

Why every clasical dancer is so beautiful 🤩

[@nzingahoney]

Thank you so much for this encouragement . I was introduced to bharathanatyam by shree bharatalya in mylapore, with Priya Murle, Aruna Subbiah and Guruma Sudharani Raghupathy and continued in my native trinidad with kalashetra trained Alana Rajah. I am so happy to hear this. I cannot wait for the ten years to be over.

[@MrGALLIENUS]

Thank you so much for such valuable advice. And for sharing your great experience. We are very grateful to you. We deeply respect you and love you very much

[@shalinisil9214]

I am not someone who is looking forward to start dancing. But as I went through this video, I realized that there are things I want to start doing, on academic, professional and hobby levels, but I can't because I am intellectualizing, overthinking and not pushing myself enough. You are a treat to watch and hear Rukmini. Much love.

[@yes-yogaearthstories1404]

You are such an accomplisehd and extremely good dancer Rukmini that I firmly believe that you started danicng in your past lives due to your precision as well as grace. I always wanted to learn dance but never got the opportunity. I started learning Odissi when I was almost 27 and continued till I got pregnant at 31. I worked as an investment banker in Germany and worked for ten and sometimes even twelve hours when deadlines were there. But I never missed my practice - just half an hour and sometimes loneger. On my way back from the bank, I bought veggies and came home and cooked and ate two chapatis and some bhaji and after half an hour reading, I would practise daily. And we don't have any household help as I was used to In Bombay. Dance was like moving meditation and even today I crave and sometimes start to dance despite the immense pain I have in knees and hips due to arthosis - lack of cartilage in the knee. I have taken back to yoga with which I grew with but I feel dance is the highest and most devoted form of yoga - no wonder Shiva is not just Adiyogi but the dancer who taught the others. :) Keep going girl!

[@Divyakrs]

Thank you for this video. I'm glad I trusted people like you when I resumed Kuchipudi at 41. It's been a year now and I enjoy every moment of my practice / performance.

[@kalpanaiyer5984]

Very nicely put. Yes it’s difficult as it’s a very energetic and precise form of dance. I learnt it as a child and do miss the energy of those days very much. Have not been able to get back to dancing for all the reasons you mentioned but I keep wishing and hoping I probably will get back in some time

[@balasubramanian-dk2my]

This speech is so motivational ,same applies for any kind of art ... It takes years and years of practice to perfect it .... Keep practicing as a habit even though if we are stagnating ...nothing works in short term ... Thanks a lot for the speech

[@FAHAWAY]

I SAW U IN VIJAY TV'S TITLE SONG!! Instantly recognized u!! U were sooo beautiful!!! Extremely apt for the video!! God bless u & ur family ❤️❤️

[@IndianAmericanKnowItAll]

Very good discussion. Love it. I think learning should never stop.

[@noheartnoglory652]

Beautifully explained. So true and this can apply to learning any new skill.

[@vaidyaga]

This is very well said. I too feel that adults seem to give up easily ... maybe because they really don’t have that much time. Age is not a barrier for the most part (unless you are 80 years old .. maybe :)).

[@radhanmoodley5594]

I’ve always wanted to hear from you as I’ve marvelled at your aspiration to excellence. Thank you kindly for such inspiration on so many levels. I’ve founded the YOLAB and we use yoga and dance to teach mindfulness. Bless you for your generous spirit.

[@priyankamudaliar6147]

Thank you for sharing this. 🤗🤗

[@yogalekshumimarimuthu2173]

After reading the comments I now know that I’m not alone, I am 34 years old and started learning bharathanatyam 3 years back. And thanks to my lovely teacher who willing to take me in and without any judgment is willing to teach me ... I am passionate about dance and willing to put my time and effort to learn and perfect it.. and yes it takes time and there is no shortcut ...

[@beabetteryou1882]

Hey one doubt, were you flexible even before you started learning bharanatyam? Iam 24 just started learning but iam very stiff.so flexibility is affecting your progress?

[@radhikakudidi1652]

Wow that's great am also same situation....but am not finding any teacher now .. could u please suggest me... where u practicing under???

[@manjukuppili1663]

Madam,I started learning kutchipudi at the age of 38..now 40 feeling hard when I doing sitting position steps.. now our family responsibilities over got time think our desire to learn dance..I may not perform on stage learning classical dance is best exercises and getting knowledge to teach others. at any age you perform classical dance you will get respect . when I am doing classical dance feel like very close to God... kutchipudi is easier than Bharat natyam I think 🙏 keep posting dance video we are learning from you 🙏 🌹🙏

[@pranavkumar1818]

This is such an important lesson for every walk of life

[@archanakr1987]

Beautifully said. Thank you 🙏

[@Siri_Isa]

You sound really very cool & honest in your sayings!😍😊

[@anataldadocumentaries]

Direct and straight to the point.

[@aseul2682]

Thank you for being honest.. 🙏🏽 You covered all the questions and touched upon all the thoughts of an adult who usually think before and after started to learn the dance.. I am 34 years old.. I always compare with children about their fast learning, flexibility and i give up thinking I am slow..

[@udhaya.kandunni]

Truly inspirational... I'm 31. I'm eagerly awaiting to start learning bharatanatyam. I've performed in school days without learning it properly cause my school teacher who is a classical dancer herself she taught us only what required for the song which we performed.

[@maxmohanmedia98]

Such simple beauty...and skilled artist

[@goethenoidea1549]

Your voice is soothing!!

[@raghavanramesh2483]

Your extraordinary talents on fine arts should be transformed to the youth of today's. You can even start an academy and wish that will grow like another Kalakahetra. Best wishes

[@pjoshi7758]

Mam I m 54 years, started from 48 ,but I never thought, that I m old and so many things I love dance, my only focus on dance, when old teacher teach us, so as we can also dance, tumko pyar hona chahiyai bs only dance focus only on taal, movements, music, balance, mudrayain etc. I m an odissi dancer, learning from my dear sweet respected guru kavita dwiwadi ji,I'm in with odissi ,I enjoy,,,just peace of my soul

[@BGR2024]

Very true... There are so many physical impediments too. Muscle Cramps , back ache, and what not. I remember smiling throughout my arangetram when my knee balls felt like pots of fire. I felt that I would wobble and fall the next moment. But the energy of the stage saw me through and I had to congratulate myself for it because the pain was unbearable. And I was dancing with kids the age of my children who had incredible energy levels. So it's a tough game, and perseverance, and practice with continuity are what matter

[@birinaL]

I learn or not dance but I always love to hear u . Really inspiring 🥰🌸🌸🌸🌸💜

[@KohanKilletz]

Your form is so beautiful... you inspired me to start dancing again.

[@kirannnful]

Nice inspirational video, me just taken admission for garba dance learning , me 41 years old men

[@truptivyas8702]

U r right,but we can learn simple semiclassical dance steps definitely

[@Archanakarthikeyan]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I've started learning Kalari at 34. This is both setting expectations about being real in terms of progress and encouraging at the same time.

[@visalakshik.raman.6278]

iLamaiyil kalvi kal mEl ezhuththu! Children are supposed to have a care-free-mind. They have no inhibitions about making mistakes. They are willing to get corrected by their teacher. They are willing to try new things and keep on repeating until they master what they have been taught. So it is much easier to learn as children. In learning dance, being young has an additional advantage. They are far more flexible and more injury-free than adults. Of course there is no hard and fast rule that adults can not/ should not learn to dance. It all depends on their aptitude, attitude, intensity of passion and the amount of hard work they are willing to put in. After all it is the Exception that proves the rule! :)

[@sohinichatterjee7994]

Thank you so much for this ma'am. Wanted to hear on this topic.... 😊❤💕🤍

[@tiziozogwada3510]

Merci dans une autre j'ai peut être une danseuse, j'ai 45 ans mais votre danse est inspirante

[@bdsharma84]

One hundred percent true - I started at 31 and within 2 years my right knee started hurting. The doctor said it’s better to give Aramandi a break . I also discovered that existing mental shackles impact form and expressions. Of course if one’s bodies are supportive, it’s a liberating experience. Age then becomes just a number !

[@neethunazareth]

I started to learn Bharatanatyam and Kerala folk dances when I was around 6 years old. Stopped when I was 11 years old because we shifted places. Tried to learn and perform here and there since then but now in my late 20s I wish I could learn all over again and perform my arangetram. Muscle memory still exists though I did forget the theory.

[@rudra-thandavam]

If you miss it, don't be dry. Just enjoy what the doers are doing. Life is about being happy one form or other. You don't need to do by yourself th same to enjoy what the performer is doing. If you get deeply connected to dance, without knowing a thing about what performer is performing, you can also enjoy the same within you.

[@SaurabhAher9]

Thanks 😇💚🙏 This is really helpful

[@delphinelisabeth]

great points !

[@nikunjmodi4008]

सीधी सटीक बात ✌️ क्या बात है🙏🏻

[@vijayvijay4123]

She is wise and beautiful❤️

[@violetapetrache3693]

Nsmaskaram. Thank you. I am 36, and I hope to keep some better form at last in the next years. Have no problem to learn, I will just continue to look at your videos for increase my mobility. I am from Romania and I leave here, so I am far but I would appreciate very much if u can remember some times that I am here looking you and just bag u to send some tips even on Fb

[@user-ho9wx8xc8g]

This is so ........ appreciated💯🌼🎁🥳❤️

[@danavallikesavan8570]

Good explanation Ma'am

[@sumahs8831]

Ma'am, my son is a very big fan of yours and watches all your videos. He is 18 and wants to start learning dance. It would be very kind of you if you accept him as your shishya. We live in Bengaluru. Could you please reply how to approach you ma'am?

[@chandrarathnamanawasinghe8806]

Great madam 👌..thanks.

[@meerajim6338]

Am a house wife... mother of one child...I did my Arangettam at the age of 31... Am very passionate for dance...

[@goodvibesbroadcast4029]

🤔I got my Kathak visharad at 59 ,Now I have joined Bharatnatyam 😂..... Me crazy ....

[@aishwaryavs3290]

All the very best... My dance classmate is 80 years... She started at the age of 74 ... She is a doctor... She is my inspiration

[@goodvibesbroadcast4029]

@@aishwaryavs3290 thanks a lot for letting me know really inspiring , my God.. thanks once again for this , now I am really determined to go through this journey. 🙏 Thanks dear ,🌹 and good luck for your dance also 🌹

[@aishwaryavs3290]

@@goodvibesbroadcast4029 Thank you very much🙏🏻

[@shatakshiism]

Thank you

[@guuday2all]

You read my mind. Thanks for answering the same question I was thinking to ask for a long time. hmm, I don't think I can practice for 6 years, no way. Thanks again for dumping my desire to learn dancing, just kidding. OK now tell me is there any short cut if I have to learn just the Shiva tandav dance :-) . I am not sure if you have your Shiva tandava dance on youtube.

[@aparnagandhi8044]

Very encouraging

[@vindhyarai3881]

Like her honesty

[@malcolmdean2303]

I don't practice dance. I practice a form of taiji, and have for 34 years. Everything you just said about your dance is also true of taiji. I started at age 36, and it took 20 years to become fluid. What you said about being vulnerable - and persistent - is exactly right.

[@annietheresa3241]

Very well said ma'am. I want to start again .. Plz guide me

[@amritapratihar9576]

thank u so much maam for ur encouraging advice u r absolutly corect when i dance i bcm very judgemental nd critical though i am learning kathak from smal age but stated learning bharatnatyam recentlynd tht time i feel d guilt not doing an adavu properly nd yes as an adult i hv other responsibilities but yes we have our mind theraphy to get over it so plz u make a series as an adult how to make up our mindset thank u so much

[@shylanambiar4316]

I love your hair. Desis have the best, most luxuriant hair (most).

[@ar.krishnokolidutta7864]

I am 29 now.. I don't know when I will be able to return to India, or be posted in the southern region, but it will happen someday, and I want to take up learning (hopefully from you). I really really want to.

[@BrahminVaad_BaqiSab_Bakwaas]

💘💘💘 addicted to your voice.

[@unnatibhatt4216]

Ohhhhh my god you are soooo beautiful Ma'am and graceful tooo 💕

[@bunbury420]

I left bharatnatym in the middle as I was stagnated at the step. I regret it. But this lesson stayed with me as now I am aware of the fact that stagnation is common and has to be overcomed.

[@gayathrisurendran4942]

Could you please comment on those who have been trained as children, and want to re-start again in adulthood? I performed for 10 - 12 years during the school years, but largely lost touch over the next 10 years during higher studies, even though I did continue dancing in general (cinematic, western, semi-classical) till around 23 years. Now at 29, I suddenly realized my body doesn't seem to be malleable as it used to be, and I'm struggling to understand how to start again.

[@keerthyajith7708]

Same here

[@radhikaramachandran8264]

I started dance atnthe age of 18 but from my experience my guru Neena prasad mam put a huge effort ever Sunday we have dance class at Trivandrum ......last 4 years i do only adavus but now I started learning items like alarippu and jathiswaram for me i think an adult needs the patiens more .....and offcourse thanks to lockdown days for giving me a lot of times to practice

[@antepavelic9162]

RADHIKA🌻🥀🌷🍒LOVE FROM CROATIA💖

[@abhiea5319]

Started my lessons at the age of 29😍

[@neehararajesh8379]

Nice mam...😍😍

[@aishwaryabhat4826]

Please recommend us simple streches that are beneficial for bharathanatyam

[@yashcookuk]

Well said madam, I’m big fan of you. I have 3 year old daughter what is the right age to start bharathnatyam? Please

[@drsareekakatkuriphysiother5376]

How is classical dance forgiving on the body ?

[@madhusangita6638]

Hi @Rukmini Vijaykumar, I want to learn the dance form, I have always been willing to learn. I am based in Bangalore can you please suggest where I can learn?

[@olivianair2284]

I always wanted to....I am crazy of bharatanatyam and mohiniyattam..

[@Vnk0209]

So true ❤️

[@debdattabhattacharya6254]

I started learning Bharatnatyam at the age of 37 years, that was 5.5 years ago. I was the mother of two kids, it was difficult to find time. But I am glad I made time to pursue this childhood dream. My daughter is a fellow student in the same class. It is hard to keep up with the stamina of the class. I have to workout regularly to be able to match their energy level. With time, this has become a common shared interest for me and my daughter.

[@moumitabandyopadhyay2954]

Mam I started Bharatnatyam again few months back at age of 30 after a gap of 6 years. I started dancing from 5 years of age till I completed my graduation but due to some reason I had to leave Bharatnatyam that time.

[@BGR2024]

We, as adults have a feeling that we don't have that much time... Say 5-10 years. That we will be too old by then, so that's why we tend to hurry! But actually, we might take more time than them which out minds don't want to accept

[@_Meghanism_]

My biggest dream is to learn dance I'm alrdy 26 definitely I start before 30 as I have to get settled n secure a good job beforehand

[@aheli.s]

Hi. Please start learning to dance now if it's possible. I wanted to learn Odissi since childhood but waited just like you first for school to get over, then college, then for a good job and settlement. During this pandemic I realised that life is too uncertain, we are here now but might not be here tomorrow. So enrolled myself in Odissi. We keep on waiting for a beautiful future when the present is already perfect. I realised it after two near ones passed away. It's the best time now! Start learning. Best wishes from two years yours senior 🌻

[@storyworld2981]

Is there any center near Kudlu so that I can join,?

[@Mindfulness_77]

Can anyone suggest a good bharatanatyam dance academy or teacher at delhi who takes class for 40 plus age group as beginner ?

[@alokvasant]

Do you take online courses, how can one apply

[@subratasheet5558]

How can I can practice in periodtime. Is it possible.?If possible so how

[@abirames8925]

Unfortunately I have bad knees and could not continue my bharanatyam classes.

[@soortaalchondo]

You are saying truth but I always wanted to learn Bharatnatyam, when I was child there was no Bharatnatyam teacher in town..now in these age I wanted to learn... now the problem is no one wants to teach me

[@kombaiyasmarya6219]

Hi Rathna....I want to learn baratham and I m 25 yrs old but I m not having any valuable dance teachers in my surroundings .can I get online class. ...is good for learn as a beginner

[@gururaaaajsl2010]

Some people never become adults they remain children all through life