Vishwa Shanthi Dance Academy

Vishwa Shanthi Dance Academy was started in the fall of 1999 under the umbrella of Vishwa Shanthi, an organization promoting peace through the performing arts.

Vishwa Shanthi always sought to emphasize the spiritual and subliminal aspects of art and not just the physical aspect. Bharatha Natyam, with its roots in the Natya Shastra, is a sacred art. It is a fusion of music, rhythm, sacred geometry, yoga, worship, therapy, sculpture, poetry, harmony and beauty. It is the perfect blending of all the dimensions of the created being - physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Through lessons, lecture-demonstrations, storytelling, and performances, we strive to create new audiences for Bharatha Natyam who can appreciate the sacredness of the art form and elevate their consciousness. Thus classical dance can become a form of collective meditation centering on beauty, sacred music, harmony and rhythm and thus promote peace.

At Vishwa Shanthi we teach Bharatha Natyam in the pure classical style as taught in India along with theory and the inner meaning of the mythological stories. We also teach yoga exercises and emphasize perfection in the technical aspects of dance. Class groups are kept small for individual attention. Vishwa Shanthi supports workshops by other senior artists and will offer classes in other styles of classical dance, folk dance, and music in the future.

Dance classes are held in the following locations:
Palo Alto
Sunnyvale
San Mateo