Nrithyollasa Dance Academy


Bharathanatyam, a classical dance of India, is one of the most graceful, subtle and sophisticated styles among all the dance forms in the world. The term Bharatha was derived from the three essential facets of this art: Bha - Bhava or expression; Ra - Raga or music; Ta - Tala or rhythm. The term 'Natyam' is both Nritta and Nritya: the two aspects of Bharathanatyam. Nritta is abstract dance whose main components are tala and laya - time measure and rhythm. In Nritta, the emphasis is on abstract dance, creating intricate patterns that involve a coordinated choreography of arm, leg and neck movements. Nritya is Abhinaya - the expression of emotions, where a dancer tries to convey the meaning of a story to the audience through the portrayal of emotions. Therefore Natya is the visual painting that the dancer depicts to narrate a story. In 200BC, the principles of Bharathanatyam were compiled by Sage Bharatha in his treatise the 'Natya Shastra'. Sage Bharatha was initiated by Lord Brahma himself in the art of dancing. All the important styles of Indian classical dance are based on the set of rules laid down in the 'Natya Shastra'. Thereafter, Bharathanatyam endured through the ages and survived and flourished in the temples of South India among a unique community of devotees who expressed their love for the infinite spirit through the medium of dance.


Indumathy Ganesh founded Nrithyollasa Dance Academy in 1989 to provide rigorous and intense training in Bharatanatyam, including the theoretical aspects and Nattuvangam (dance conducting). The Academy conducts classes in Fremont and Pleasanton. Students of the academy have performed in various events and have charmed the audience with their abhinaya (expression) and keen sense of rhythm. In the past two decades the school has trained hundreds of students, and the Academy staged its one hundredth (100th) student arangetram in 2019. 


In addition to solo thematic productions choreographed and presented by Indumathy Ganesh, the academy has produced several short and full-length productions for group presentation, including Krishnanjali, Arpana - Tribute to Composers, Nature’s Melody, The Splendor of Dance, Recollections, Natana Saram, Nrithyamala, Antharyami, and KrishnAnubhavam. Several students have also performed as soloists in community events. Nrithyollasa students have also performed in over 50 cities in the US, Europe and India. 

The dancers from Nrithyollasa have performed to raise funds for the Bay Area Temples and to support several worthy causes such as AASRA and Adyar Cancer Institute. In November of 2017, the academy staged a fundraiser to raise over $14K to support those affected by California wild fires. Nrithyollasa Dance Academy has won several accolades and awards in classical dancing.


Indumathy Ganesh has also collaborated with other Dance companies in the Bay Area in choreographing The Hero's journey, In Praise of Giving, Stree Mahima, Abhaya Hasta, Divya Nama Anjali, Shringara and Maitreem Bhajata.