Proposing a Pedagogical Model for Bharatanatyam as a Spiritual Practice Through the Lens of Yoga Literature: a Practice-Based Approach Between Tradition and Innovation.

Nair, Santosh G.K. (2023) Proposing a Pedagogical Model for Bharatanatyam as a Spiritual Practice Through the Lens of Yoga Literature: a Practice-Based Approach Between Tradition and Innovation. Doctoral thesis, Liverpool Hope University.

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Abstract

This thesis questions how the process of performing the images of the divine incarnation of gods and goddess of the Hindu mythology in the dance of Bharatanatyam (BNT) can be made more spiritual and philosophical in practice. BNT retains much context and foundation from Hindu religion which does evoke a spiritual and philosophical relation, but lately it has shifted to take on an identity that is more religious than spiritual/philosophical. This thesis proposes a model through a practice-based approach that is concerned with mapping a teaching-learning process that grounds spirituality in embodiment and in a philosophical interpretation of religious mythology. This is done by referring as methodological lens the classical text NāṭyaŚāstra and yoga’s practices and theories.

This thesis unfolds in both an academic and an informal style of writing and diary sharing is an important aspect of the read. The method unfolds two case-studies that explore
perspectives on how a piece choreographed by two different dancers is interpreted, and how each uses the grammar of BNT. These discussions lead to revisiting a piece taught and explored by Guru Rama Vaidyanathan. Through a back and forth of discussion, a proposed model is suggested through a practice-based research. This thesis finally concludes with an ethnographical testing of the model with two pupils. Each of the two pupils’ work was part of a ten-week testing of the model which provides a progressive recognition of the model’s validity and contribution.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Additional Information and Comments:	Copyright © The Author 2023. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request.
Faculty / Department:	Faculty of Creative Arts & Humanities > School of Creative and Performing Arts
Depositing User:	Matthew Adams
Date Deposited:	18 Oct 2023 09:15
Last Modified:	18 Oct 2023 09:15
URI:	https://hira.hope.ac.uk/id/eprint/4039

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