www.silambamhouston.

org

dance@silambamhouston.org

281-724-9114

Student Handbook 2015-2016

About Silambam
Silambam Houston is a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt arts organization and a premier dance
school in the Houston area. Silambam aims not only to impart dance education, but
also to turn out well-rounded, artistically sensitive and culturally refined individuals.
Silambam students receive a holistic education, which includes firm grounding in
Bharatanatyam theory and cultural history, basic Indian classical music instruction,
fitness and body conditioning, and rigorous fundamental training and technique
refinement. Much emphasis is placed on mental and physical discipline, and on the
importance of practice, passion, dedication, and perseverance.
Policies
1. Attendance: Attendance at every class is compulsory, except in the case of
extenuating circumstances (this does not include birthday parties, weddings, or
play dates!).
2. Make-up classes: If absence is foreseen but unavoidable, please call ahead to
inform the teacher. Classes missed due to illness only can be made up if informed
in advance, at a mutually convenient time. Missed classes should be made up
within a month.
3. Punctuality: Please come to class ON TIME, preferably five minutes ahead of
time. Each class will begin and end on time.
4. Attendance at Performances: Observing good dancing is an integral part of your
dancers education. Please make every effort to attend as many performances by

local and visiting artistes as possible. Attendance is mandatory at one performance

in the Fall and one performance in the Spring semesters. A brief written report,
signed by a performance organizer, participant, or Silambam instructor present at
the performance, must be turned in for each performance attended. A list of
performances to choose from will be supplied at the beginning of the Fall and
Spring semesters. Failure to attend may result in the student being barred from
the Annual Recital.
5. Dance attire: Every student must wear black ankle-length stretch tights,
comfortable enough to dance in, and a cotton, short-sleeved (no long or puffsleeves) kurta/kameez. A cotton (not synthetic material) dupatta/angavastram
must be brought to tie around the waist. Older students must wear a dance saree
tied over a salwar or black tights.

Please wear a bindi unless you have

religious/cultural reasons not to.

6. Hair style: Loose hair (short or long) bothers and distracts the dancer; hair must
be pulled back neatly from the face, short hair pinned back, long hair in a ponytail
or braid. Bangs, if any, must be pinned back.

7. Practices: Every student is required to practice at least two times a week, 30

minutes each.

A log of practices must be kept, noting the date and duration of

practice and adavus/items practiced. This must be brought to each class.

8. Binder: All students are required to bring a 3-ring binder to each class. Practice
logsheets, class notes, homework assignments, research papers, performance
reports, and reading material are all required to be filed in this binder.
9. Observing classes: Parents are requested not to sit in on classes.
typically distracting to the students and to the instructor.

This is

Parents may sit in on

one class every two to three months; this should be arranged in advance.
10. Website: The Silambam website is intended as a resource for students and
parents.

It contains information on the school, policies, class schedules, and

upcoming

cultural

events

in

Houston.

The

web

address

is

www.silambamhouston.org
11. Class notes and resources: Class notes, audio recordings, dance theory notes,
etc. can be found on the schools private Dropbox account. Please contact the
teacher for access to this resource.
12. Recital: This year is our off year; therefore, instead of a large-scale recital, we
will have an in-house student showcase in the studio in June. Preparing for a big
recital takes many months away from fundamental training and slows down
students progress towards the advanced levels, not to mention the stress on
parents! Therefore, at Silambam, we alternate this with a more intimate in-studio
student showcase that nevertheless gives students the excitement of performing in
front of friends and family.
13. Open House: Every year at Vijayadasami, an annual open house will be held.
Parents, family and friends are welcome to this event. This is your opportunity to
see your dancers progress, as well as interact with the teachers.

14. Performance Policy: Students who have reached the Advanced 1 level will
receive their salangai (bells) and will be trained to perform at a group event called
the salangai pujai.

However, to conform to established standards, the time to

arangetram (solo stage debut) will be at least 7-8 years, and will depend on the
ability and quality of the student. Arangetram-track and post-arangetram students
will be offered various performing opportunities at cultural events through the
year. If you want quick results and/or frequent performing opportunities during the
learning stages, this is not the right school!

15. Curriculum: Silambam follows a comprehensive syllabus, modeled along the

Bharatanatyam

syllabus

of

the

Imperial

Society

for

Teachers

of

Dance

(www.istd.org). The Silambam curriculum (see next page) includes modules on

History/Background,

Dance

Theory,

Fitness

and

Technique, and Ancillary Subjects (Music and Rhythm).

Body

Conditioning,

Silambam Houston Dance Curriculum

Pre-Natyam
Ages 5-6
No prerequisite

Beginner 1
Ages 6-8
No prerequisite

Beginner 2
Ages 7-10
Prerequisite: Beginner 1

Beginner 3
Ages 8-11
Prerequisite: Beginner 2

Intermediate 1
Ages 9-12
Prerequisite: Beginner 3

Intermediate 2
Ages 10-13
Prerequisite: Intermediate 1

Intermediate 3
Ages 11-14
Prerequisite: Intermediate 2

Advanced 1
Ages 12-15
Prerequisite: Intermediate 3

Advanced 2
Ages 13 and up
Prerequisite: Advanced 1

Advanced 3
Ages 14 and up
Prerequisite: Advanced 2

An introductory class in which young students are exposed to the

concepts of gestures, storytelling, rhythm, and music in a fun and
interactive manner. Students are also taught exercises to build
muscle strength and flexibility, as well as the basics of
Bharatanatyam stance and technique.
Basic Bharatanatyam stance, adavu technique, hand gestures, and
the mythology of dance are taught in this beginner class. Basic
Carnatic music concepts and rhythm/tala fundamentals, as well as
flexibility, strength, and balance exercises, are also introduced.
Adavus (steps) of increasing complexity, increased detail in theory,
exercises for focus and warm-up/cool-down, glimpses into various
Indian classical dance styles and temple sculptures, Carnatic music,
and an introduction to dance syllables (sollukattu) make up this
class.
In addition to increasing complexity in technique, theory, and
musical training, students in this level will cover hand-eye
coordination, the importance of good posture, and an overview of
Bharatanatyam texts, early Bharatanatyam (Sadir), and styles
(Bani).
Advanced level adavus, theory, Carnatic music lessons, sollukattu
recitation, musical notation, body alignment, and an overview of
Devadasi tradition, the Tanjore quartet, and the Maargam will be
covered in this level.
Students at this level will complete adavu training and graduate to
Alarippu. In addition, they will continue theory lessons, discuss the
Bharatanatyam
renaissance
and
nritta/nritya/natya,
learn
techniques for breath control and stamina/endurance exercises,
proceed to simple Carnatic music songs, refine sollukattu
enunciation and delivery, and experiment with choreography.
Students will begin learning a Bharatanatyam repertoire, develop
core strength, balance, and stability, and learn to enunciate and
deliver jathis and korvais vocally, a precursor to nattuvangam
training.
This class will introduce elements of abhinaya in theory and
technique, expand the students repertoire, polish technique,
improve strength and stamina, and allow opportunities for students
to practice choreography skills. Voice modulation skills and teacher
training on the tattukazhi will also be imparted. Students will
perform their salangai pujai towards the end of this year.
This arangetram-track class will focus on a complete repertoire,
building stamina and strength and polishing technique. Students will
become proficient on the tattukazhi and will also be introduced to
the nattuvangam.
This pre-arangetram class will focus on expanding repertoire, as well
as choreography and nattuvangam skills. Students in this class will
work towards arangetram in group and private lessons.

16. Fees: Please note that Silambam will NOT accept credit cards in 2015-2016.
Tuition may be paid via recurring automatic monthly payments (you will need to
provide a voided check during registration so we can set this up), or annually
(provide a single payment by check in August). Recurring payments will be
processed on the 5th of each month. Any changes or cancellations to recurring
payments must be communicated by the 20th of the previous month. The fee
structure is as follows:
a) Registration Fee: An annual registration fee of $25 is due in August; this will
cover administrative expenses.
b) Tuition: Our tuition is based on an eleven-month dance year. Students who
pay annually receive one month free. A 5% discount is available for siblings. All
students must be registered with Silambam and have paid the annual
registration fee of $25 (this fee is not included in the fee schedule below). We
are not set up for drop-in and pay-by-the-lesson students.

Dance + Music

PreNatyam
Beginner 1
Beginner 2/3
Intermediate
Advanced

Monthly
Autopayments
Aug-Jun
$55 (Oct-Jun)
$70
$75
$80
$85

Annual
1 payment in
Aug
$440 (in Oct)
$700
$750
$800
$850

All Silambam dance students receive music lessons

(required as part of our curriculum) at no
additional cost

Music only*

30 min /week
60 min /week
Private lesson

Monthly
Autopayments
Aug-Jun
$35
$65
$20/hr

*These fees are only for

students who wish to learn
music alone at Silambam.

17. Schedule (for 2015-2016): The following is the class schedule for the 20152016 dance year. All classes will be held at Dancescape studio.
Friday
Pre-Natyam
6:00 pm to 6:45 pm
Beginner 1
6:15 pm to 7:45 pm
Beginner 2
6:45 pm to 8:30 pm
Beginner 3
6:45 pm to 8:30 pm
Intermediate 1 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Intermediate 2 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Intermediate 3 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Saturday
Intermediate 2: 9:30 am to 10:30 am
Intermediate 3: 9:30 am to 10:30 am
Advanced 1 9:30 am to 11:00 am
Advanced 2 10:30 am to 12:00 noon
Advanced 3 (SHDC) 11 am to 12:30 pm
(SHDC rehearsals may extend to 1 pm as needed)

18. Important dates and holidays:

August 7, 2015

First day of class for dance year 2014-2015: Master class by dance
guru-s Priya Murle and Roja Kannan for all students.

September

4/5,

No class (Labor Day weekend)

2015
October 16, 2015

Navratri/Vijayadasami Open House/Student Showcase, 6:30 PM

November 27/28,

Thanksgiving weekend; no classes (potential makeup days).

2015
December 25/26,

Winter break; no classes

2014
January

1/2,

Winter break; no classes (potential makeup days)

12/13,

Spring break; no classes (potential makeup days)

2015
March
2015
May 25/26, 2015

Classes held as usual (Memorial Day Weekend)

June 25/26, 2015

Last day for dance year 2015-16.

Contact information:
Email is the best way to reach us! We request you to refrain from using text,
Facebook, or Whatsapp messages to contact faculty, staff, or Board members to
discuss official Silambam business. Please use the following email addresses instead.
Faculty (for enquiries relating to curriculum, class notes etc.)
Lavanya Rajagopalan: lavanya@silambamhouston.org
Krithika Mohan: krithika@silambamhouston.org
Raji Natarajan: music@silambamhouston.org
Anusha Venkatramani: anusha@silambamhouston.org
General enquiries, tuition, registration etc: dance@silambamhouston.org
For questions relating to governance: board@silambamhouston.org