"Hands together, feet together – and begin" This is how I start every one of my dance classes. Before we get into the true practice, it's important to prepare both our minds and our bodies for the task. Taking the time to warm up well helps guarantee a more effective practice session. Remember, dance is 50% mental and 50% physical, so both have to be warmed-up! A simple ritual to start each practice and performance Why we start with a Namaskar At the beginning and end of ever

"I am a dancer" If you love dance, you have probably used that sentence to describe yourself. But, what does it mean to be a dancer? A performer? An artist? At Noor, we strive to be artists, not just performers. That means we're not only trying to be someone who does routines on stage – we're learning to understand dance from all perspectives. It's a complex idea, so here are some tips on how you can work on being a better artist in your own dance journey: Everyone working to

"I just don't feel excited about it anymore" "She doesn't like to practice" "My daughter isn't passionate about anything" Do these lines sound familiar to you? If so – DON'T WORRY! This abstract idea of "passion for your craft" is something that ebbs and flows constantly. Every artist "loses passion" at some points and experiences bursts of creativity at others. If you know you love dance, don't let the periods of boredom or creative block hold you back from pursuing what you

"Practice, practice, practice" "Practice makes perfect, you know" "Why don't you practice more?!" Who hasn't heard these comments before? 😉 We all know that to get better at anything, we have to practice. But what does that mean and how can we do it efficiently? Here are 3 tips to get the most out of your practice time. No matter your age or level, everyone needs to practice to stay strong and keep growing! Tip #1: Limit your practice time Are you surprised to see me suggest

"Arangetram" As a dance student, you will hear a lot about people having their Arangetrams, and how they takes a lot of work. But what really is an "Arangetram", who does it, and what does it symbolize? What does it take to prepare? Read this basic guide to understanding the big day: Performing at my Arangetram in 2004 :) What is an Arangetram? The word "arangetram" means "ascending the stage". It is a solo dance debut – that means it's the first time a student performs a ful

"We are storytellers in motion" This is the tagline that I created for Noor, back when we launched. Storytelling is at the heart of everything we do with our dance. Our style of dance is special because it goes beyond raw movement to convey stories, emotions, and themes to our audience. Here are some of my best tips on how to show emotion and better connect with your audience: "Oh, Krishna. Why do you tell me these lies? Won't you just stay with me?" Get comfortable with your