Indian Performing Arts Workshop: Physical and Expressive Principles of Bharatanatyam and Kathakali<\/b><\/p>\n
Taught by M\u00f3nica de la Fuente \u00b7 Casa de la India<\/b><\/p>\n
Date:<\/b> Monday, September 28, 2026<\/span> As part of the <\/span>UC3M India Week<\/b><\/a>, dancer, actress, and choreographer <\/span>M\u00f3nica de la Fuente<\/b>\u2014a specialist in Indian performing arts and artistic director of LAB-India at Casa de la India\u2014will lead a hands-on workshop focused on the physical and expressive principles of classical Indian dance-theater.<\/span><\/p>\n This session offers an in-depth exploration of the training techniques of <\/span>Bharatanatyam<\/b> and <\/span>Kathakali<\/b>, as well as some of the aesthetic foundations that underpin India\u2019s traditional performing arts. Movement, gesture, breathing, rhythm, and emotional expression will serve as tools for exploring the expressive possibilities of one\u2019s own body.<\/span><\/p>\n The Physical and Expressive Principles of Classical Indian Dance-Theater<\/b><\/p>\n The workshop will explore the study of movement and the expressive capabilities of each part of the body through techniques drawn from Bharatanatyam and Kathakali, applying some of their principles to our own movement language.<\/span><\/p>\n What role does breathing play in developing an expressive body and in creating emotional states? This is one of the major areas of study in Indian performing arts and one of the focal points of this session, which will allow participants to experiment with breathing, abstract movement, expressive gestures, and <\/span>Navarasa<\/b>\u2014the nine fundamental emotions described by the Indian aesthetic tradition.<\/span><\/p>\n A workshop for training and creation<\/b><\/p>\n The workshop is designed as a space for <\/span>training, experimentation, and creation<\/b> based on the performing arts traditions of India. The traditional methodology of learning and passing on classical Indian dance will engage with elements drawn from contemporary dance, physical theater, and individual and collective choreographic creation.<\/span><\/p>\n The session will also offer a practical introduction to the <\/span>Natya Shastra<\/b>, the great classical treatise on the performing arts of India, whose tradition\u2014spanning more than two thousand years\u2014allows us to explore concepts related to emotion, space, movement, gesture, breathing, and physical and emotional expression.<\/span><\/p>\n Practical Content<\/b><\/p>\n The course will include exercises and principles related to:<\/span><\/p>\n Navarasa: The Taste of Expression<\/b><\/p>\n In classical Indian aesthetics, <\/span>rasa<\/span><\/i> literally means \u201ctaste\u201d and refers to the emotional experience that a representation evokes in the viewer. <\/span>Nava<\/span><\/i> means nine.<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>Navarasa<\/b> It identifies nine major emotional states: <\/span>sringara<\/span><\/i> (love or eroticism), <\/span>raudra<\/span><\/i> (rage), <\/span>turn<\/span><\/i> (heroism), <\/span>bhibatsa<\/span><\/i> (aversion), <\/span>hasya<\/span><\/i> (comedy), <\/span>karuna<\/span><\/i> (compassion), <\/span>adbhuta<\/span><\/i> (amazement), <\/span>bhayanaka<\/span><\/i> (fear) and <\/span>shanta<\/span><\/i> (serenity).<\/span><\/p>\n Building on this concept, the workshop will explore how each emotion can manifest itself through the body, the face, breathing, the voice, and movement. The workshop invites participants to discover the relationship between nonverbal language, emotional expression, and communication, transforming the body into a true narrative tool. <\/span><\/p>\n About M\u00f3nica de la Fuente<\/b><\/p>\n M\u00f3nica de la Fuente<\/b> is an actress, dancer, and choreographer specializing in Indian performing arts, with a career spanning more than twenty years dedicated to their study, promotion, and experimentation.<\/span><\/p>\n He trained for about eight years at renowned institutions in southern India, including <\/span>Kalakshetra<\/b>in Chennai, <\/span>Kerala Kalamandalam<\/b> , and <\/span>Margi<\/b>, where she delved deeper into Bharatanatyam and Kathakali. Her training was supported by scholarships from the <\/span>Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)<\/b> of the Government of India and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2017, she received the <\/span>Nrtya Nivedita Award<\/b> from the Global Council for Arts and Culture, and in 2019, the <\/span>ICCR Distinguished Award<\/b> from the Government of India for her career and dedication to Indian dance and culture.<\/span><\/p>\n Since 2000, she has been developing her own dance-theater productions and intercultural projects. She has collaborated, among others, on <\/span>*Flamenco, Flamenco*<\/span><\/i>, by Carlos Saura, and in the production <\/span>*Kijote Kathakali*<\/span><\/i>, presented at the Almagro International Classical Theater Festival. Her work has been performed in Spain, France, the United Kingdom, India, and the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n She is also <\/span>the artistic director of LAB-India, a performing arts laboratory at Casa de la India<\/b>, where she is engaged in ongoing work in training, research, and creation centered on the performing arts of the subcontinent.<\/span><\/p>\n More information:<\/b> www.monicadelafuente.com<\/span> Activity offering academic credit<\/strong> for UC3M students through the Activity Passport.<\/a><\/strong> Indian Performing Arts Workshop: Physical and Expressive Principles of Bharatanatyam and Kathakali Taught by M\u00f3nica de la Fuente \u00b7 Casa de la India Date: Monday, September 28, 2026 Hours: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Location: Room 16.S.02, below the cafeteria. Getafe Campus. Carlos III University of Madrid Admission: Free event. Advance registration is required through […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8696,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[],"mec_category":[173,172,166],"class_list":["post-8697","mec-events","type-mec-events","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","mec_category-also-at-uc3m","mec_category-credit-recognition","mec_category-events"],"acf":{"texto_boton_evento":"Free with prior registration; space is limited","url_boton_evento":""},"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/span>Hours:<\/b> 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
\n<\/span>Location:<\/b> Room 16.S.02, below the cafeteria. Getafe Campus. Carlos III University of Madrid<\/span>
\n<\/span>Admission:<\/b> Free event. Advance registration is required through the <\/span>UC3M Activities Passport<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/span><\/a>Instagram:<\/b> @monicadelafuentedanza<\/span><\/p>\n
\nFor the activity to count toward your credits, you must register in advance through the Activity Passport\u2014in addition to reserving a spot, when applicable\u2014and sign in at the end of the activity.
\nYou can register for UC3M India Week activities through: Activity Passport Registration<\/strong><\/a>
\nSection: On Campus \/ Other Activities<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"