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Bharatanatyam Karanas

Image source: “The Tradition of Natya: Position and Development of Natya in Sanskrit Tradition (Part 6: Modern Revival)” , Indica Today.

Bharatanatyam is among the oldest classical dance traditions of India, emerging from the temple culture of South India more than two millennia ago. The form reveres Lord Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, and has long been understood as both performance and devotion. Its name reflects its essential elements—bhava (expression), raga (melody), tala (rhythm)—brought together in natya (movement). The dance moves between nritta, the architecture of rhythm and footwork, and nritya, the expressive language of abhinaya through which poetry and narrative take shape. Rooted in the Natya Shastra, the tradition seeks to evoke rasa, the aesthetic experience through which performer and audience meet.

Nivedita Rethnakar is a senior disciple of Guru Smt. Suman Nayak at the Natesha School of Bharatanatyam in Poway, California. Born in India, she began her classical dance training there before joining Natesha in 2014. She completed her arangetram in July 2022 and has since continued to perform as both a soloist and ensemble artist.

Over the years, she has presented margams in Chennai at Rasika Ranjani Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha, Brahma Gana Sabha, and the Sac Valley Margazhi Festival in Sacramento. Her performance at Brahma Gana Sabha was featured in the Times of India, Chennai edition.

Through Natesha, Nivedita has performed at Indian Fine Arts Academy of San Diego (IFAASD), the Festival of Lights at Balboa Park, 'Unity in Diversity' by San Diego Indian American Society and more. She has played lead roles in several Natesha productions such as Paramanandam (2018), a fundraiser production supporting a local nonprofit, and Who Is Krishna? (2023). She also performs with Arpana, a program organized annually in San Jose by the Konkani Charitable Fund.

Alongside her stage work, Nivedita frequently offers Natya Seva, presenting Bharatanatyam in temple spaces in San Diego as well as in South India, including the Madhwa Mantapa in Udupi and the Sri Mookambika Temple in Kollur. During the 2026 Natyanjali Festival, she joined her guru for a four-day performance tour across Tamil Nadu, appearing in Mayiladuthurai, Thiruthuraipoondi, Nagapattinam, Thirunallar, Ambagarathur, Karaikal, Vaitheeswarankoil, Thiruvidaimarudhur, Thiruppalathurai, and Kumbakonam.

She is currently a nattuvangam student of Vidwan Sri Nagai P. Sriram and regularly participates in thematic intensives and workshops with senior artists. Alongside her own performance work, Nivedita remains closely involved with the Natesha community, supporting arangetrams and mentoring younger students as they enter the tradition.

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