For as long as you can remember,
You've wanted to float like a kathak artist
Command a room like a bharatanatyam dancer
Build confidence in your vocal skills.
Learn the arts thoroughly and with structure
Do something creative for just you.
But life always seems to get in the way.
So you tell yourself:
"Next month, when I have more time."
You check the class schedules, they never match up to your own
Years pass by, and you've just never gotten started.
You've wanted to float like a kathak artist
Command a room like a bharatanatyam dancer
Build confidence in your vocal skills.
Learn the arts thoroughly and with structure
Do something creative for just you.
But life always seems to get in the way.
So you tell yourself:
"Next month, when I have more time."
You check the class schedules, they never match up to your own
Years pass by, and you've just never gotten started.
So we heard you, and built a learning platform for where you are at now:
Learn kathak, bharatanatyam, or carnatic vocals -
whether you have 5 minutes or 50:
Timed to your needs
Learn in 5 minute chunks or 50 - whatever fits your schedule.
Guided curriculums
We've constructed learning guides for you to navigate and understand what you've got to complete and where your skill level is
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Critically acclaimed classes
Learn from someone with well over 15+ years of experience teaching adults, with award winning students
Feedback on progress
Email or ask live - check in with founder, Sahasra Sambamoorthi at any time to get feedback on how you are doing
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200+ videos
And uploading daily: the library will have over 1,000 videos in the next 3 months
Community
Connect with other learners on the platform
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A note from Sahi: how this all started --
Welcome!
I'm so excited for you to start learning dance or music.
I created this video library because I realized having access to a knowledgeable teacher in the Indian arts - one that you respect, has a huge amount of research behind them, and have dedicated their lives to the art form - is a rarity. I tell my students all the time:
Access to knowledge is a privilege.
While I advocate for in person classes with a teacher, sometimes, it's just not possible for any number of reasons: financial constraints, time, distance, availability of the class, or otherwise.
Every day, I see students who are dying to learn.
They all tell me "I've dreamed of learning kathak all my life," Or "I feel so drawn to the structure of bharatanatyam."
I know what this art form can do. It is transformational if done well, not just making you a beautiful dancer but shaping you beyond the classroom into someone with more patience, more empathy, more love, more soul.
And so I'm on a mission: to help as many of you as I can start your journey in the Indian arts.
Because, even if you only access a small piece of this world, I know how amazing it can be.
And just by learning: while you do something to better yourself, you also get to become an advocate for these incredible cultural spaces - a space that for so long was taken away from us, were bullied, were culturally stigmatized. (I mean, to this day - Indian art forms are not as valued as Eurocentric styles!)
So join me - become part of the movement to find empowerment, joy, and strength through learning the Indian arts.
I'm so excited for you to start learning dance or music.
I created this video library because I realized having access to a knowledgeable teacher in the Indian arts - one that you respect, has a huge amount of research behind them, and have dedicated their lives to the art form - is a rarity. I tell my students all the time:
Access to knowledge is a privilege.
While I advocate for in person classes with a teacher, sometimes, it's just not possible for any number of reasons: financial constraints, time, distance, availability of the class, or otherwise.
Every day, I see students who are dying to learn.
They all tell me "I've dreamed of learning kathak all my life," Or "I feel so drawn to the structure of bharatanatyam."
I know what this art form can do. It is transformational if done well, not just making you a beautiful dancer but shaping you beyond the classroom into someone with more patience, more empathy, more love, more soul.
And so I'm on a mission: to help as many of you as I can start your journey in the Indian arts.
Because, even if you only access a small piece of this world, I know how amazing it can be.
And just by learning: while you do something to better yourself, you also get to become an advocate for these incredible cultural spaces - a space that for so long was taken away from us, were bullied, were culturally stigmatized. (I mean, to this day - Indian art forms are not as valued as Eurocentric styles!)
So join me - become part of the movement to find empowerment, joy, and strength through learning the Indian arts.
No holds barred access to my 20+ years teaching experience and 30+ years in the field.
Because of my 20+ years of teaching experience, I was able to pour all my knowledge - what to look out for, how to break down each step so you can learn it and self correct with a mirror (or without!) and how to keep yourself injury free while learning with the structure and intensity you crave from the live class.
I'll also be adding what I think makes a holistic dancer: an understanding of the history, theory, how to learn the right way, and various other tidbits of information that make powerhouse Indian artists so very good at what they do.
While there are many "free" lesson guides on youtube with pretty videos, beautiful artists in beautiful costumes and saris, dispensing exacting technical knowledge, there is so little within these about the true purpose of this form: how to become a holistic dancer and person, what you need to be mindful of when learning, and how to be a responsible learner in the context of the history of the form. Without this, learning this style becomes just about the movement, with no heart - and you will be setting yourself up to not ever get to the core of understanding the form.
Then, when you're ready, you can hit the ground running when you finally have the time to join a class with a teacher (any teacher, really) and take your dancing to the next level.
I'll also be adding what I think makes a holistic dancer: an understanding of the history, theory, how to learn the right way, and various other tidbits of information that make powerhouse Indian artists so very good at what they do.
While there are many "free" lesson guides on youtube with pretty videos, beautiful artists in beautiful costumes and saris, dispensing exacting technical knowledge, there is so little within these about the true purpose of this form: how to become a holistic dancer and person, what you need to be mindful of when learning, and how to be a responsible learner in the context of the history of the form. Without this, learning this style becomes just about the movement, with no heart - and you will be setting yourself up to not ever get to the core of understanding the form.
Then, when you're ready, you can hit the ground running when you finally have the time to join a class with a teacher (any teacher, really) and take your dancing to the next level.
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"This is nice...but I want to learn in person, with a teacher.
I want to set aside time fully and then do it."
I hear you.
I hate to burst your (beautiful) optimistic bubble, but students say this ALL the time.
And get stuck in a never ending cycle of promising themselves they will take the first step.
You wait 1 more month, 6 more months, and then suddenly years pass by and the next thing you know another decade will pass by without you making any steps forward.
I wish I could say this wasn't true.
But it is.
I still run into students in person all the time who tell me 6 years later that they're hoping to start dance again!
So go on: take that first step. Get yourself one bit closer to your dream.
I hear you.
I hate to burst your (beautiful) optimistic bubble, but students say this ALL the time.
And get stuck in a never ending cycle of promising themselves they will take the first step.
You wait 1 more month, 6 more months, and then suddenly years pass by and the next thing you know another decade will pass by without you making any steps forward.
I wish I could say this wasn't true.
But it is.
I still run into students in person all the time who tell me 6 years later that they're hoping to start dance again!
So go on: take that first step. Get yourself one bit closer to your dream.
I understand, but I would still like the option for zoom or in person classes with the teacher:
This sounds great, but I'm just not ready to commit yet!
Keep in touch below and receive free videos and mini lessons, information about new classes, and more:
I'm a teacher myself! Can I use your choreographies for my students?
Absolutely! We are all on this great journey of learning this form together. I would love to share what I've done so far with as many people as I can and am happy for others to use this material for themselves.
Testimonials and Transformations:
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"I cannot tell you what a miracle Navatman wrought in our lives....
Sulakshana went from wanting to quit bharatanatyam (from ages 4-7) to wanting to continue… even when she has to miss 3/4 of the classes! She says that bharatnatyam is now ‘part of her’, and even though she still doesn’t like practicing, she can’t imagine life without Navatman. It’s not only about the dance, but about being part of the community (her words). So often after class, I’ve heard her say that she was re-energized and inspired."
- Julia and Sulakshana, dancing with Navatman 4 years
"Navatman is the best and largest community for bharatanatyam dance....
(and other Indian classical art forms) that I have found in Manhattan, and the teachers are so talented. Navatman caters to students that are new to Bharatnatyam, all the way to professionals. Sahi is such a talented dancer and teacher. She really emphasizes techniques that are sustainable and prevent long term injury, while maintaining the intricacies of the art form. This alone sets Navatman apart from other dance schools. I'm thankful to be a part of this community every day, and encourage anyone interested in the Indian classical arts to join Navatman."
- Anisha, dancing with Navatman for 5 years
"Sahi...you have been amazing teachers. My love for Kathak can't be revoked and once I go back to India I am still going to continue with Kathak. Definitely learned and changed a lot in the last year under your guidance. Hopefully things work out and I'll be back with Navatman by the end of the year."
- Mansi, danced with Navatman for 2 years
"Like most everyone I know, I'm a huge fan of Navatman and what you guys do for the arts scene and the implications it has for arts around the world. You're truly change-makers and visionaries, and Navatman stands testament to that."
- Lavanya N., fan
"I’m so grateful to have a supportive and encouraging community at Navatman. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that this is the single most important thing that has helped tide over the craziness of last 12 months."
- Shruti S, dancing with Navatman 3 years
"[Navatman is]...a central force in classical Indian dance and music."
- Deepa S.
- Mansi, danced with Navatman for 2 years
"Like most everyone I know, I'm a huge fan of Navatman and what you guys do for the arts scene and the implications it has for arts around the world. You're truly change-makers and visionaries, and Navatman stands testament to that."
- Lavanya N., fan
"I’m so grateful to have a supportive and encouraging community at Navatman. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that this is the single most important thing that has helped tide over the craziness of last 12 months."
- Shruti S, dancing with Navatman 3 years
"[Navatman is]...a central force in classical Indian dance and music."
- Deepa S.