Course Title
A Creative Lab in Bharatanatyam, Kathakali & Modern Dance
Level
An introductory course for exploring dance as expressive language.
Mentor
Shima Mahdavi
Duration
• 7 Weeks, 13 sessions
• Classes: Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:00-9:00 pm
• Starting Thursday May 8, 2025 (See Schedule Table)
• Optional: Concluding the course with a final performance.
| Weekly Sessions | Tuesdays 6:00PM-9:00PM | Thursday 6:00PM-9:00PM |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | - | May 8, 2025 |
| Week 2 | May 13, 2025 | May 15, 2025 |
| Week 3 | May 20, 2025 | May 22, 2025 |
| Week 4 | May 27, 2025 | May 29, 2025 |
| Week 5 | June 3, 2025 | June 5, 2025 |
| Week 6 | June 10, 2025 | June 12, 2025 |
| Week 7 | June 17, 2025 | June 19, 2025 |
Location
VIVA Alliance, 401 - 353 Railway Street, Vancouver, BC
Course Description
This lab is focused on nurturing curiosity rather than technical skills. It is an invitation to explore dance as a creative mode of expression. Through the lens of three powerful traditions—Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, and Modern dance—you’ll be introduced to new methods of storytelling.
Each of these dance forms takes years to learn and apply in practice; this course simply offers a first step into how their vocabularies might speak to you, and how they can be used as tools in artistic creation. Together, we will experiment with gesture, rhythm, expression, and improvisation and play with layering these elements to discover what becomes possible when diverse traditions meet.
This is a learning lab—a space to test ideas, reflect, and grow. By the end of this course, there will be an opportunity to share a glimpse of our studio process with friends and family in a casual performance piece. But there’s no pressure. The true goal is to spark a connection with your body, your creativity, and new possibilities.
This lab is also a chance for mutual discovery—for you to explore your relationship with the language of dance and get involved in opportunities for future projects or long-term collaborations.
Mentor
Shima Mahdavi is an artist and performer with a BA in drama acting. She has been teacher trained in Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, yoga, and modern dance and is interested in blending traditional and contemporary forms as a mode of expression.
Requirements
• Comfortable clothing
• A pair of socks
• A long scarf (if available)
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will:
• Gain introductory exposure to Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, and Modern dance
• Explore gesture, rhythm, and storytelling as expressive tools
• Develop beginner skills in improvisation and creative movement
• Learn how to begin blending intercultural vocabularies of movement.
• Reflect on their own creative voice through movement-based exploration
• Experience the process of creation in a collaborative group setting
• Experiment with how traditional dance can influence contemporary forms of movement.
• Explore potential next steps for continued artistic learning
OR
VIVA Alliance members pay $285 for this courseSign up for a membership to enjoy discounted rates on exhibitions, events and more!