When was the last time you liked a video on YouTube and learned a new item? Or watched a movie? Or a talk? Which technology touching different walks of our life, it even touched the way people connect with dance. Now a days, Online media has become the virtual stages reaching out to so many viewers at a time and YouTube is the magic wand. So here is the list of channels that every classical dancer should look forward to checking out awesome stuff about classical dance.
1. Indian Raga
Indian Raga an independent channel hosts performing arts with a lot of variety. They operate in over 40 global cities to help artists learn, perform and shine. With over 10 Million views in just 2 years on its video library, the Indian Raga YouTube channel are some of the most engaged social media platforms for Indian performing arts, with 160k subscribers and 398 videos till now. Most noteworthy are new-age innovations like Studio Nritta, LGBT Stories, Shiva Shambo, EDM Thillana, Irish Malhar and other viral pieces that have captivated the attention of millions of audiences. Indian Raga has been recognized by iconic brands like Lincoln Center, Chicago Cultural Center, MIT, NPR, Bank of Tokyo, KPMG etc., and is a member of the International Society for the Performing Arts.
2. Sheela Unni’s Sridevi Nrityalaya
Sheela Unni’s Sridevi Nrityalaya is a dance school based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The school was founded in 1987 and operates as a trust. The main aim of the institution is to support and promote the South Indian classical dance form Bharatanatyam. The revolution started by the YouTube channel where performances and videos were being showcased. Within a span of time this YouTube channel became world famous and one source for all the dance enthusiast around the globe. Sridevi Nrityalaya’s unique compositions and wonderful dancers like Harini Jeevitaraman bought eminence about of recognition to Bharatanatyam as a whole. This is a perfect example of collating both dance and technology together. Now SDN has 48k subscribers and has published 600 videos till today.
3. Sanskriti Series
Sanskriti Series presents videos on Carnatic Music, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, and Kathak, Yoga, Bhajans and Chants from various artists. The live webcast of various programs are also presented in an effort to reach the content to around the world. One of the best videos to watch is “Natya Kala Conference”, concerts of eminent artist and talks and discussions. They often have the bank of documentaries on dance and famous personalities of dance. Now, having a fan base of 64k subscribers and over 2500 video uploads, they run an encyclopedia of Indian culture.
4. Learn Kathak Online
Learn Kathak Online a tutorial channel to learn Kathak where you can Learn Kathak at your own pace, in your own space. This channel gives the opportunity to learn Kathak from Guru Pali Chandra, an artist and a dance educationist who has been associated with world famous universities, Pali Chandra shares a wealth of knowledge through this platform. Kathak lessons in the form of online videos, help people with varying abilities and across age groups to develop their dance skills. Lessons are available in both English and Hindi. Learn Kathak online provides one video every Wednesday to more than 60k subscribers.
5. Svetlana Tulasi
Russians don’t typically turn on their TVs expecting to see Indian classical dance performances on but if Svetlana Tulasi has her way, they did. The trained Kathak dancer after lighting the small screen in Russia is now on fire on YouTube promoting stunning Kathak dance fusion piece on YouTube she got her fame from the show Russia’s Got Talent. She started posting her performances on YouTube and the Internet is impressed. Though Svetlana Tulasi is more into Bollywood Kathak fusions they are an anecdote for learning a new trend of dance. Her YouTube channel boosted high with more than 120k subscriptions and her constant screen presence in top shows like Dance+ and India Got talent added more apparels to her credit.
6. Kumar Sharma
Kumar Sharma a disciple of Late Shri Sita Ram Ji of Jaipur Gharana from whom trained under traditional Guru Shishya Parampara for 6 years is booming internet with videos. He is a researcher of around 20 Folk Dances of India and Performing Artist of Kathak (Jaipur Gharana). He has choreographed many performances in Indian Television Dance Reality shows like DID Super Moms, Jhalak Dikhla Ja-6&7, Boogie-Woogie, India’s Got Talent-5, DID-4 etc. He has recently performed in various shows for Living Legend A R Rehman with very talented performer Shakti Mohan. His YouTube videos always feature renditions of classical dances. Now booming with 63k subscribers.
So why to wait? Go and subscribe to these channels and learn, perform and share! YouTube is an immense tool for making us rooted with traditions, processing change and acknowledging innovations.
