Bharatanatyam

South Indian classical dance

This traditional dance form originated in Temples of Tamil Nadu over 2000 years ago, and alternates between:

pure dance - rhythmical footwork, intricate hand gestures, shaping the body into a symmetry of triangular lines and spaces
expressive dance - each hand gesture is given a meaning and facial expression portrays the lives of Hindu deities.

Classes and performances

Fabrizia teaches regular adult classes in Hitchin combining Bharatanatyam with yoga and meditation, as well as weekly children's classes. She also teaches in schools and community projects, and gives performances at cultural events. Here she is pictured in her Strawbale dance studio near Hertford, where she gives private tuition.

Watch videos on Fabrizia's YouTube channel

Experience and education

Fabrizia's love for dance began as a child attending Bharatanatyam classes at a Krishnamurti School in Southern India. Returning to England, she trained with Marianne Balchin, a former student of Ram Gopal.

Having attended classes with Akademi (formerly Academy of Indian Dance), she performed at the Commonwealth Institute, Royal Festival Hall and School of Oriental and African Studies. She was part of a welcome dance for Ravi Shankar at the Barbican Hall and gave a solo recital at the British Museum to celebrate an exhibition of South Indian Art.

Fabrizia has refined her dance technique with Anusha Subramanyam and teachers of the Kalakshetra School in Chennai, most recently under the tuition of Krishna Latha.

Dance is a way of creating an awareness and confidence within oneself. This sensing of toe to fingertip shapes the body into moving sculpture.