So You're Thinking of Having an Arangetram... Addressing Common Stigmas and Misconceptions

Hi everyone! It's been a while since I have been active on this site, but during this time of COVID-19 quarantine, blogging is a great escape and I look forward to sharing many more posts during this time.

Today I want to talk about what a Bharatanatyam arangetram entails and some prerequisites that are required. Firstly, an arangetram is usually only considered for a dancer who has been dancing for quite a while. Usually, about 4-7 years of training are required. In my case, I was dancing for 10 years before my teacher decided that I was ready for my "ascent to the stage."

Often times, the dance Guru will approach the student about the prospect of an arangetram, but if you have been dancing for a while and feel that you have achieved mastery of basic dance skills, then there is no harm in approaching your teacher and inquiring whether an arangetram is a possibility. However, before you do this, keep in mind that an arangetram requires about a year of diligent practice from the student and time and resources from the Guru and the dancer's family. There is a lot of hard work that goes into this performance, but the result is so rewarding! An arangetram holds a common stereotype for being something that a dancer's parents push for rather than something that the dancer actually wants, and I have witnessed this myself from some of my fellow dancers. If an arangetram isn't something that you really want, the practice and preparation will be torture, so just keep this in mind before embarking on this journey.

Also, there is somehow a common stigma towards people who opt not to have their arangetram. Many people in the Bharatanatyam dance community think that not having a dance graduation mitigates a dancer's dedication to the art form. But in reality, there are a wide variety of reasons for a dancer choosing not to have an arangetram. It may be attributed to the financial burdens that this performance may cause for the family or simply because the dancer does not feel ready to carry the responsibility. Regardless, I just want to emphasize that choosing a different path does not diminish your passion for dance in any way and your love for the art form will continue to shine through!