Have you ever wondered why Indians join their hands and greet each other with the word Namaste? Namaste – the traditional and ancient Indian greeting, has now acquired the exalted status of being a standard greeting across the world in these Covid times. It is a word of Sanskrit origin which is derived as follows: […]
Nash Italia is the Co- Founder of ICH Learnings. Qualified as a Teacher, he is working with Bombay International School and G.D Somani memorial school. He is a yoga teacher and works on language development with students. He has also taught as a IB PYP Homeroom teacher prior to becoming a Yoga teacher . He is passionate about fitness and yoga.
Dr. Ulka Mayur is a theatre artist, storyteller, writer, director, actor and folklorist. She has written and directed much-acclaimed plays like Cast Off All Shame, I, Cloud and Ballad of Desires. Her work has been showcased in many eminent festivals as well as in spaces like museums, art galleries, libraries and cultural clubs.
Ulka has been working extensively on creating meaningful and engaging content for children. As a folklorist, she has been doing a series of live and digital storytelling events to present niche stories from rich Indian heritage. Her versatile creative work also includes direction of music videos and performance of stand-up comedy set. She is the co-founder and artistic director of Story Circus, a company which does wide range of work in theatre production and transcreation.
Nayan Marphatia is the Founder of ICH Learnings. Qualified as a CA, he has worked with several MNC’s such as Pizza Hut, DHL Express, ELF Lubricants. He was instrumental in setting up the Pizza Hut Brand in Mumbai. Passionate about teaching and travel, he specialises in teaching on Leadership, Change Management, Communication, Presentation and Inter personal Skills. He also has his own Travel Agency.
He unwinds by playing the guitar, running and reading about behavioural economics
Shubhada Varadkar is one of the finest exponents of the Odissi form of Indian Classical Dance. She is a Performer, Choreographer, Writer, Guru, and Guide, who has taken the divine form of Odissi to transcendental heights. Her individuality and versatility blossomed under the guidance of her Guru Padmavibhushan Shri Kelucharan Mohapatra.
Shubhada has been teaching, performing, and conducting workshops in India and abroad for more than a decade. She has performed at various prestigious festivals, nationally and internationally. She has received several prestigious awards and is also an Empanelled member of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Shubhada is also a prolific writer. She has penned her autobiographical account in Marathi titled Mayurpankh. She has written The Celestial Plume and is the author of the coffee table book Glimpses of Indian classical dance.
Films Division of India and PSBT has made a documentary titled Peacock plume based on her life journey.
Nithya Rajendran is a versatile Indian Classical Musician with over 35 years of experience in both Hindustani and Carnatic Classical music. She is a rank and scholarship holder from Mumbai university and an empanelled Vocalist with All India Radio. She has performed at many prestigious concerts on Indian and international platforms. Recent performances include the recent International Festival of Spiritual India, New York based-The Diya Project and The World vegetarian Congress among many others.
She is the founder of Music Vruksh, A venture that aims to demystify and make Indian Classical Music accessible for children and adults all over the world. Nithya and her team have developed a knack to make Indian Classical Music fun and accessible so that it can be tapped for its aesthetic and emotive potential. Nithya students are from across the world and span all geographical and cultural backgrounds.
This introductory course will help students understand the body language precision for Indian classical dance. The initial training in exercise and stepping will set the foundation of Odissi dance form which will further help student to pursue advance training in dance.
“By the end of this introductory course, the participants will be able to understand unique aspects of Indian classical dance , learn the basic dance postures, footwork, hand movements of Odissi dance and basic Indian taal system. They will also learn a Ganesh Vandana shlok along with the detailed meaning of the same.
COURSE STRUCTURE
1. Origin and overview of Indian classical dances, tradition and history of Odissi dance.
2. Basics of rhythm and Ektaali
3. Explaining basic dance posture Samabhang, Abhang,Tribhang and Chowk.
4. Movements of eyes, neck, and hands.
5. Ten steps of Chowk body position.
6. Basic traditional hasta of Odissi dance
7. Introduction to Laya
8. Learning basic rhythm and Chatushra Ukuta in Vilambit, Madhya, and Dhrut Laya
9. Introduction to Odissi Music.
10. Ganesh Vandana Shlok.
Dancing is like dreaming with your feet!
Constanze Mozart
Students will learn Asanas inspired from the animal kingdom which will greatly assist in their mental physical and emotional development.
The Sages of Ancient India observed the action and movement of animals and incorporated them into their daily practices. These postures benefit and strengthen all parts of the body. The course will have asanas which include standing, sitting, and various inversions.
Students will be introduced to the concepts of Ashtanga yoga (the 8 limbs of yoga ). The limbs are :
Each of these 8 limbs will be looked into with their principles and content areas which are seen through the lense of stories and myths. There will be discussions based on these principles alongwith stories and anecdotes .
Children will be introduced to asanas which help them flex their muscles and loosen out their body. Myths and legends about many asanas and their creation will be narrated and discussed.
They will be introduced to pranayama or breath work another important limb of Ashtanga yoga they will learn to focus on their breath and introduced to a few simple pranayamas
The twelve sessions will progress from basic to intermediate levels of difficulty.
Yoga is a light, which once lit will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter your flame.” ― B.K.S Iyengar
This program demystifys and make Indian Classical Music accessible for children and adults all over the world. It is enjoyable and accessible so that it can be tapped for its aesthetic and emotive potential.
This program narrates Indian Mythological stories and introduces Indian culture in a friendly, fun-filled manner.
The content is well-researched and drawn from our literary heritage and will be hosted by young performers. It covers the most fascinating tales from the Ramayana, Mahabharat, Panchatantra and folk tales from various states.
Course Content
1 Stories of Rama and Krishna
2 Stories of Animal gods (Ganesha, Hanuman)
3 Tales of mythological warriors (Mahabharat)
4 Tales of Indian mythological animals
5 Sweet and Spicy stories about food (Folktales featuring varied food of India)
6 Fables relevant today (Panchtanatra, Jatakatha kind stories speaking about lessons like anti-bulling, multiplicity, tolerance, equality, gender sensitivity)
7 Funny stories (Birbal, Tenalirama, Sheikhchilli and many other funny folktales)
8 Mapping India through myths (stories of Ramayana and Mahabharat featuring geography of India)
