Author: Utpalasia
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What is a chakkar?
A chakkar is a fast spin. It requires good balance control, proper position, stamina, and speed to be correctly executed. Young dancers begin to practice chakkars at an early age, starting with a nine-count circle, then moving down in counts until they have perfected the circle of one. Experienced artists have been known to perform…
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What is the namaskar we do at the beginning and end of each class, and what does it mean?
Dancers traditionally do the namaskar which is both a greeting and an invocation to the god, asking for help, and also forgiveness from Mother Earth for pounding on her. All dances are done barefoot, as leather is not worn by Hindus. There are many different forms and styles of namaskar, depending on the artist’s preference…
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NDS Introduces “Haptako Prashna ra Uttar” – Weekly Question and Answer Segment
Join us every week for a new fast fact about dance, religion, culture, music, and heritage from the Himalayan region and the Indian subcontinent. We will explore the most commonly asked questions, and bring you unusual facts and interesting topics.
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Early Spring Update
Please note that all Fairfax County school-based Bollywood classes may be found in the ParkTakes magazine. We are pleased to announce that NDS is now offering a variety of instruments and accessories for sale (quantities are limited). Also available are supplies for Kathak dance, including original music for artists of all ages and levels. Items…