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CLC Capstone Proposal

Nandini Soni
John Oliver Secondary School
Career Life Connections 12
Ms. Sharma
December 6, 2020
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Introduction

Bharatanatyam is a form of Indian Classical dance that is Indigenous to Tamil Nadu.

Bharatanatyam, being the oldest Indian dance tradition, was danced to Carnatic music in the
temples of southern India since ancient times. The dance form expresses South Indian,
religious and spiritual themes, particularly of Hinduism, through hand gestures, body
movements and facial expressions. In the modern age, it has also been a form of expression to
creatively start a conversation and raise awareness on current issues and ideas.
Twelve years ago, my mother had enthusiastically taken me to my first
Bharatanatyam lessons. As I walked into class, clutching onto my mother’s hand firmly, my
four-year-old self was purely mesmerized by the dancers. From that day onwards, my interest
in wanting to learn how to dance began to grow. Since then, I have fostered a deep
appreciation for the art form. After I started training for my Arangetram, a debut graduation
performance, I was spending more time reflecting on what I can do with my dance education
and training. I soon concluded that I wanted to pursue a semi-professional dance career. My
interest in this art grew immensely from the inspiration I drew from renowned dancers,
particularly my Guru, Jai Govinda. Bharatanatyam is a dance form that has a rich history and
infinite areas of study that branch from it. Knowing this, I learned that I would need to
deepen my knowledge of these topics to understand the role of a professional Bharatanatyam
dancer. The essential question that will guide me through this project is: ​what goes into
becoming a professional Bharatanatyam dancer?
When I first started Bharatanatyam, I kept this aspect of my life secret from all of my
peers, worried they would “make fun” of an activity that was so important to me. I still rarely
speak about dance to even my close friends. Something that I would like to achieve through
the process is, expose my peers to a dance form they possibly have not heard of and educate
them about it. I will also have a much deeper understanding of the history and basics of
Bharatanatyam, Hinduism, Carnatic music and more by the end. I will have learned about all
the aspects involved in creating a successful performance and production. By the end, I will
have made a video or presentation, documenting my journey and what I have learned. My
overall goal is to feel more comfortable speaking about Bharatanatyam and embrace such a
significant part of my life while learning more about this art form.
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Significance
I feel that it is an exciting time for Bharatanatyam on a global scale. It is time to
celebrate and take advantage of the versatility of Bharatanatyam. As dancers continue to
preserve the classical presentation of the dance form, its versatility allows for a
reinterpretation of a traditional form into a contemporary context. However, Bharatanatyam
is still in need of international representation and representation in dance in the dance world. I
aspire to bring this representation and awareness about this dance form, by pursuing a
professional career in Bharatanatyam. While also dedicating my time to working on a project
that I am passionate about, I will be able to educate my peers about this dance form and
possibly inspire individuals to pursue it as well. It is a great thing to be an audience and
admirer of the dance form, however we need individuals to experience the art form and to be
the flag bearers. This is to ensure that we preserve the culture and the art form for the next
generation to experience.
Many of the professional dancers, whom I dance alongside, have pursued this career
and created great productions that raise awareness about real-world issues. For example,
Aiswarya Roshan, a Medical student, uses dance to open conversation on social issues and
themes. She has also created an organization called Asta Alliance that promotes Indian
classical dance. By facilitating dialogue and collaboration within the classical Indian dance
field, this organization aims to bridge the gap between public exposure and resources that can
be found in the community. This is something I would like to do as well. Aishwarya
continues to be an inspiration for me and a mentor throughout my dance journey.
Having strict goals and deadlines will be crucial to complete this project. I will be
practising vital skills, such as time management and organization skills to complete this
project. These skills will be very beneficial when I pursue this career, for example, when I
need to complete choreography in a certain amount of time. My goals will essentially guide
me through this project. The essential question will continuously remind me of the purpose of
this assignment. I believe my project will interest my peers and teachers because they do not
know that I am a Bharatanatyam dancer. It will also interest my dance teacher and mentors.
This Capstone project is the stepping stone and a part of my journey to becoming a
professional dancer. I hope to one day perform for diverse audiences and positively influence
their conception of this art and preserve this dance form.
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Project Plan

December
-What do I want to know about this topic?
● Research about how to become a professional Bharatanatyam dancer and all of the
aspects involved
○ Read stories about the dance journey of specific professional dancers,
including Jai Govinda (my dance teacher)
-​What kind of resources might help?
● Do research on Bharatanatyam history on the internet
● Research about history of Hinduism and how it is related to Bharatanatyam
○ Learn about different religious stories
Research needs to be complete by mid December 18
● Learn about Carnatic music and the basics
● Schedule meeting with mentors: helpful resources
● Practise dance everyday
● Film my learning progress
January
● Practise dance everyday
● Watch videos and learn about the aspects of choreographing dances, performing and
creating a dance production
-How do I use media to express my message?
● Learn how to do stage makeup and learn about parts of a costume
● Plan for presentation or video
○ Planning needs to be complete by January 11
● Start putting together video or presentation by mid January
○ Have presentation/video complete by January 31st or February 1st

Core Competencies
​ y the end of this project, I will have communicated ideas, information and
Communication: B
experiences with several of my mentors. I will need to communicate my questions effectively
so that my mentors understand them and can provide me with valuable information. I will
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have educated my peers about Bharatanatyam and presented my learning to them as I share
stories and ideas.
Creative thinking: ​Dance itself involves creative thinking, as it allows for a creative outlet to
express one’s emotions through choreography. However, I will need to brainstorm ways that
I can present my experiences and learning, to my peers effectively. Whether that may be a
video or a documentary, using creative thinking, I will be able to create an engaging
presentation that interests the viewers. I will need to think of creative and effective ways to
learn new concepts from my mentors as we need to consider physical distancing.
​ esearch is a significant part of my Capstone project. There are many
Critical thinking: R
debatable topics in regards to the history of Bharatanatyam. Therefore, I will have examined
the information I have received and separate my ideas and beliefs from others’. I will also
critically think to solve problems that may come up in my project.
​ he entirety of this project is also based on my
Positive personal and cultural identity: T
awareness and understanding of my family background, heritage, culture and beliefs as I will
learn about my religion and the history of Bharatanatyam. Learning about my culture and
understanding my beliefs and values will allow me to perform better and respect the art form.
​ ecause I only have two months to complete this
Personal awareness and responsibility: B
project, I will need to be aware of the deadlines and make sure to time-manage to meet those
deadlines. The capstone project being an independently-directed project, it will demand
constant motivation. I will need to be patient with myself, as learning any new concept will
not be an easy task. I will need to be mindful of my own well being and talk to others if I am
experiencing stress.
​ hroughout this project, I will need to create and maintain healthy
Social responsibility: T
relationships with my mentors, which will allow me to be socially responsible. Additionally,
when I learn about the dance journey’s of my mentors, I will need to respect and understand
that they all will have different perspectives as they all did not have the same journey. I will
be positively contributing to the dance community with this project. This project will allow
others to learn about different cultures and connect with one another.

Vision
What final product(s) do you envision will result from your project?
I will have made a thorough and engaging presentation or video that documents my journey
and learning process. Based on the information I research and collect and the amount of
video-recording I have, I will then decide whether I create a presentation, a video or a
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combination of both. My final product will be one that best represents my learning while
exposing my peers to topics that may be foreign to them.

Resources
I have been training from Jai Govinda, a French-Canadian, professional
Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher since I was 5. His ongoing guidance, dedication to this
dance form, as well as his dance journey have also inspired me to pursue a professional dance
career. Therefore, he will be one of my primary resources. Many of the students that I dance
with in Advanced lessons have pursued a professional dance career. Many of them have
toured around the world, performing their productions. They will also be my community
connections. Their expertise and extensive knowledge in this field will be helpful for me as
they will provide me with unique information, their personal stories and advice that cannot be
found on the internet.
However, there is a vast expanse of information available on the internet. Therefore, I
will be using the internet to do research and will be watching Youtube videos to learn new
concepts.

Conclusion
This project is more than an academic exercise. It reflects responsibility, dedication
and ambition. I will be able to apply the skills that I obtain from this project, in all of my
endeavours, even after highschool. This project will allow me to dedicate significant time to
learning about important concepts that I will need to know when I pursue my professional
Bharatantaym career. Understanding aspects of Bharatanatyam from its spirituality and
religion aspect to learning about music and choreography will allow me to become a better
dancer and perform with meaning. Sharing my experience and journey through this project
with my peers will give them an understanding of new topics that are new to them. By
facilitating a conversation about this Indian classical dance form among my peers and the
general public, I will be contributing to preserving this art form as well. Bharatanatyam is a
prominent part of my life and I am going out of my comfort zone, by sharing this part of my
life with my classmates. This project should matter to others because I want to inspire them
to learn about their own culture and passions and be proud to share it with others, as I am
doing.