Learning the 108 Karaṇas: Toward embodied practice and pedagogical renewal in Bharatanāṭyam

Learning the 108 karaṇas, codified dance units from the ancient text Nāṭyaśāstra, offers new possibilities for embodied training, creative exploration, and pedagogical renewal in Bharatanatyam. As a Bharatanatyam dancer, I engage these possibilities through a practice-as-research (PaR) lens. Structured training in karaṇas revealed significant pedagogical potential: enhancing kinaesthetic alignment, enabling both expressive and abstract choreography, and fostering aesthetic integrity. Through embodied inquiry and critical analysis of the Nāṭyaśāstra,I examine how karaṇas, often excluded from mainstream curriculum in India, can complement aḍavu-based pedagogy and support a more holistic and responsive Bharatanatyam education.