New to Bharatanatyam

[rainbowdash]

Hello all,
This is my first time posting but I've been a lurker for a few days. I live in the Midwest and have decided to learn Bharatanatyam. I cam across the beautiful artform by wanting to pick up a dance form that wasn't Western (I'm not Indian and I'm 15) and I saw we had a Bharatanatyam dance school in my area. I began to look at all the dance videos I could find on Youtube. It's a dance form I've fallen in love with even though I have not been able to experience it. The first week of September is when I go to my first class. A lot of people here are very experienced in Bharatanatyam. Are there any resources to give me to learn more about Bharatanatyam? What are the rules or etiquette between student and Guru? I'm nervous because I will be a non Indian person trying to learn a classical Indian dance form, I don't want the Indian community to think I'm just doing this as a fad or because of Bollywood movies. Please give me any wisdom or resources you can.
Thank you

[rshankar]

Welcome Rainbowdash! Just the fact that you are so enthusiastic about the art should stand you in good stead. Sincere attendance in class and putting in the required practice should be more than enough to demonstrate how serious you are. Let me get you started with a wonderful website: http://www.dancingforthegods.org, run by bharatanATyam dancer and kinesiologist, Preeti Vasudevan. Good luck!!

[mohan]

Good luck with your venture. There are a number of non-Indians who have learnt bharatanatyam and reached a good level of proficiency.

Another resource is http://onlinebharatanatyam.com/ that may be of help and has a list of other resources as well.

What are the rules or etiquette between student and Guru?

For your first class take a plate of fruits (including a small of selection bananas, apples, oranges, mangos) together with your first class fee and present it to your teacher. I am sure your teacher will guide you what else to do! Also, check with your teacher beforehand what to wear to class.

[rainbowdash]

For your first class take a plate of fruits (including a small of selection bananas, apples, oranges, mangos) together with your first class fee and present it to your teacher. I am sure your teacher will guide you what else to do! Also, check with your teacher beforehand what to wear to class.

I shall provide her that! All of the students wear Indian clothes but I have no access to that. My friend who takes Bharatanatyam classes with the same Guru told me to wear a long shirt and tights. I've also been told my Guru is very nice.
This is the school that I will be going to
http://www.hindutemplerhythms.com/
Thanks for your resources and help