Classes
Photo © Takako Nakasu The first hour class builds on a foundation of good technique and is suitable for beginners and those with little experience in bharatanatyam. Starting with a yoga-based warm-up that prepares dancers for more demanding movement sequences, the class progresses to learning the adavus (basic dance units in bharatanatyam). While focusing on the precision of body lines, dancers are encouraged to use breath and imagery to explore the varieties of textures and patterns within a traditional set of steps. The class culminates with learning a simple piece of choreography.
Repertoire class, for intermediate and advanced dancers, focuses on technical detail and learning more complicated and physically challenging dance items from the traditional bharatanatyam repertoire to new choreography. Anusha has developed a distinctive method of teaching bharatanatyam in way which is both enjoyable and efficient.
The classes aim to develop dancers’ awareness of their own bodies in space and in relationship to other dancers. Pilates and yoga are incorporated into the classes to develop core strength, good alignment and safe dance practice.
Where: The Place, 16 Flaxman Terrace, London WC1 H9AT
When: Every Friday 6.30pm - 7.30pm (Technique), 7.30pm - 8.30pm (Repertoire)
How much: You can join in between terms and pay for a drop-in class or a block of classes. Drop-in class fee: £10 per hour

Photo © Takako Nakasu
Bharatanatyam classes for children
Beeja also conducts regular bharatanatyam classes for children in London, Leicester and Birmingham.
Swiss Cottage Community Centre, London
19 Winchester Road, NW3 3NR
Younger group (under 10yrs) - Mondays 5pm
Junior group (11-17yrs) - Thursdays 5pm
The new term starts on 4 January 2010
Nupur Arts Centre, Leicester
Peepul Centre, Orchardson Avenue, LE4 6DP
The class is organised by Nupur Arts, for details please visit http://nupurarts.org.uk/classes.htm
DanceXchange, Birmingham
Birmingham Hippodrome, Thorp Street, B5 4TB
Younger group (7-11yrs) - Saturdays 2pm-2.45pm
Junior group (12-17yrs) - Saturdays 2.45pm-3.45pm
The new term starts on 9 January 2010
www.dancexchange.org.uk
©Beeja
Past Events - 2010
Past Events - 2009
November 7, 2009
Anusha Subramanyam performed with Wonderful Beast Theatre Company for the 21st Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. It's production 'Yes' was a specially created programme of the poems and songs of Adrian Mitchell, a founder member of Wonderful Beast - including an inspired re-working of the tortoise and hare fable recently performed at Tate Modern.
Anusha Subramanyam performed for Many Heavens, One Earth Celebration during the Interfaith Conference and Summit in Windsor Castle and Friend's House, Euston. Her choreography "Nasadya and The Sacrifice of Life" was based on a series of stories and readings drawn from the major religions of the world. Choreography and Dance - Anusha Subramanyam; Music - Michael Ormiston; Narration - Omar Ebrahim.
"Anusha Subramanyam did an amazing 8 minute dance at the Windsor Castle for an environment event with HRH Charles in attendance. After her years with Body Mind Centering and Pilates, Anusha moves as if her skeletal and neurological structures are just one seamless sheath." (Anita Ratnam - dance artist, choreogrpaher, editor of www.narthaki.com)
November 1, 2009
Beeja performed at the V&A Museum as part of the Maharaja Exhibition. Royal Nritta was an interactive performance led by Anusha Subramanyam that recreated a regal world of dance and storytelling. Dancers: Arianna, Catherine, Elena, Katrina, Shyla and Somita.
October 10, 2009
Beeja conducted a series of open workshops for Time to Change at Regent’s Park, London, marking World Mental Health day. These workshops were part of Get Moving and Dance! initiative and were led by Shobana Bhalchandra, Lavanya Ramakrishnan and Shyla Lakshminarayana.
October 10, 2009
Shobana Bhalchandra on behalf of Beeja performed at Shri Sanatan Hindu Mandir for Brent Diwali Festival.
October 4, 2009
Beeja opened Diwali Festival on the Trafalgar Square with a group piece Nacha Gajanana choreographed by Anusha Subramanyam specially for this occasion. Vocals by Aruna Sairam; danced by Catherine, Elena, Katrina and Larah.
October 4, 2009
Beeja invited one of India's leading bharatanatyam dancers - Rama Vaidyanathan to teach a workshop at The Place. Participants had a chance to experience Rama's unique dance style and choreographic approach.
September 11, 2009
Anusha Subramanyam was teaching a free bhartanatyam taster session at The Place as part of The Place 40th Anniversary Celebration.
Photo © Takako Nakasu Beeja’s dancers Shyla Lakshminarayana and Somita Basak performed and led a dance workshop at Nyodema Festival in Bognore Regis, West Sussex. This charity event, dedicated to World Music and Arts, was organised in help of children in The Gambia, Africa.
"They were a major highlight of the day and many people commented on how wonderful the performance was. The workshop was great fun and very interesting. It was obvious that everyone really enjoyed it and we had quite a crowd watching with great interest." (Kathryn from Nyodema Charity)
August 9 – 16, 2009 Anusha Subramanyam was the Programme Director of Dance-India Summer School 2009 in Manchester. Dance-India, conceived and created by Milapfest, is an exciting and visionary dance education programme offering intensive training in three Indian classical dance styles: Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Odissi. This year’s teaching faculty was formed by the world-renowned artists, such as The Dhanajayans, Leela Samson, Priyadarsini Govind, Kumudini Lakhia and Madhavi Mudgal among others. www.danceindia.org.uk/DanceIndia/home.htm
Photo © Vipul Sangoi
August 12, 2009
Beeja's dancers Shyla, Somita and Elena performed Anusha's unique choreography at The Lowry, Manchester, during Dance-India 2009.
July 2009
Anusha Subramanyam received a Lisa Ullmann Travelling Scholarship to travel in the month of July 2009 to Pittsburgh, USA. Anusha was learning anatomy experientially, by exploring the fundamentals of body systems at the Centre of Body Mind Movement under the guidance of Mark Taylor. Anusha aims to further develop her technique and teaching practice for preparing the body, mind and artistry with reference to the practice of bharatanatyam in the UK and Internationally.
http://bodymindmovement.com/
Beeja performed at the National Portrait Gallery for the Open Weekend - Around The World.
Invited by Akademi, Elena Jacinta and Shyla Lakshminarayana danced at The British Museum during Indian Summer season. Beeja's dancers performed in the beautiful settings of the Nereid gallery alongside Gauri Sharma's group and Quincy Charles (kathak).
May 30, 2009Mritunjaya, an exploration of myths and legends of Shiva, was performed at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London, by Sushmita Ghosh, an acclaimed kathak dancer and choreographer based in New Delhi, India, and Anusha Subramanyam.
Accompanying artists for the evening were Manorama Prasad (vocal), Shivshankar Ray (tabla), Bangalore Prathap (mridangam), Balu Raghuram (violin), Shobana Bhalchandra (nattuvangam) and Raaheel Husain (sitar).
May 16, 2009
Beeja's dancers Arianna Ballabio and Elena Jacinta performed in Nice, France, for the festival Art Protect 2009. Art Protect is an annual event celebrating intercultural dialogue between art, new technologies and environment, a concept conceived by the sculptress Dominique de Séguin.
March 29 – 31, 2009
Anusha Subramanyam and Beeja’s dancers Shyla Lakshminarayana and Aindrila Ghosh led dance workshops for drama graduates during The National Student Drama Festival in Scarborough.
March 12, 2009
Anusha Subramanyam taught bharatanatyam technique for BA programme dance students at Roehampton University.
March 5, 2009
Beeja danced for the charity event entitled “Building A Future – Education for 15 children” helping to raise funds for the small village primary school in Darjeeling, North East India. The charity show took place at Worlds End Studios in Chelsea, London and was hosted by the Gap Year Guru. Performers: Aindrila Ghosh, Ayishwariya Menon and Shyla Lakshminarayana.
February 5 -8, 2009
Beeja performed at the Destinations – Holiday and Travel Show, Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre. Dancers: Aindrila, Arianna, Elena, Lavina, Rinku, Shyla and Somita.
Photo © Takako Nakasu
©Beeja
Past Events - 2008
Beeja’s dancers performed at the Luxury Travel Fair, Olympia.
September 27 - 28, 2008
Beeja presented an interactive dance performance at Wimbledon Park Festival. The festival celebrated national launch of the Cultural Olympiad and was organised by Merton Council, Leisure and Culture Development.
August 18 – 22, 2008
Anusha Subramanyam taught a one week open level bharatanatyam course during the Summer Intensives at The Place, Euston, London.
August 12, 13 and 15, 2008
Beeja has been invited by Akademi South Asian Dance UK to lead a series of dance workshops during the Ramayana exhibition at The British Library. Inspired by the epic story of Ramayana Beeja has created an interactive performance piece that incorporated dance, storytelling, live percussion and was equally enjoyed by children and their parents.
Photo © Vipul Sangoi
August 10, 2008
Invited by Akademi South Asian Dance UK Beeja’s dancers performed at London Mela in Gunnersbury Park.
July 2008
Anusha Subramanyam has been appointed as a bharatanatyam tutor at Momentum - Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) for South Asian and Contemporary Dance in Birmingham. Momentum is a partnership lead by DanceXchange and Sampad South Asian Arts, delivering national intensive dance programme for talented students aged 11-16.
July 20-26, 2008
Anusha Subramanyam has been a programme director of Dance-India Summer School held at The Lowry, Manchester, organised by Milapfest.
April 9-10, 2008
Beeja’s dancers presented Bharatanatyam Margam during the festival Migrations at Théâtre de l'Opprimé, Paris
March 6 – 16, 2008
Beeja toured with its group production Shankara in the South West of England performing in rural Dorset, Somerset and Devon.


