Pandanallur
Guru Chokkalingam Pillai Style(The original Guru of Kalakshetra Institute who set it's style and standard)
ABOUT
THE TEACHING METHODOLOGY:
Dehee's students are
rigorously and systematically trained in perfecting the scintillating Bharatanatyam both Pandanallur Kalakshetra style and
the Tanjore, of the famous pandanallur school.
However, from the very
begining, at every step the whole methodology is performance oriented to make it motivational to the hard working sincere
students. She is lovable to 4 to 6 year old students as much as the teen age and senior students and handles them very differently,
making it performance oriented in order to keep them away from the initial harsh body pains of the adavus and the Ayata posture
in order to nurture and keep their interest and confidence alive.
Once their legs gain
strength then Usha is very strict with perfecting the adavus only before going to items. Many relish this new way of teaching
today.
It is necessary to mention here that earlier method of learning classical dance meant
learning daily as dedicated students under the Guru's instruction for years and followed by a full day dancing for at least
six years to evolve as an excellent performer. Then followed the training in Nattuvangam and apprentice training as
an assistant under guru to be a "guru". Usha belongs to this earlier era. Hence Usha Narayan's detailed teaching
and knowledge of the subject is par excellence.
