D I P A C Darpana Institute for Performance, Arts and Cultural studies The arts have always been and must continue to be a reflection of society. It is on this premise that Darpana, meaning mirror, was founded. Over the years Darpana has been committed to inspire and educate practitioners of classical and innovative performing arts. The Darpana Institute for Performance, Arts and Cultural Studies (DIPAC) is dedicated to spreading Darpana's mission of education in the arts across cultural boundaries. DIPAC's program for international students offers training in dance, theatre, music, puppetry, martial arts and in developmental communication through specialized short or medium term courses specifically created for those interested in the Indian arts. Programs are devised for credit earning college courses as well as for professional training and further skill enhancement in the arts and cultural studies. DIPAC also offers capacity building in the form of workshops for teachers, curriculum building & evaluation, and other related services.
Now in its 9th edition, this bestseller is a textbook on Bharata Natyam, today India's most popular classical dance style. From old manuscripts, 'Understanding Bharatanatyam' has been written to enable students from all over the world to study, understand and appreciate this classical technique.
Understanding Kuchipudi is an invaluable treatise, the first of its kind, explaining the dance from for students. The Bhagawata Mela Natakam was a story-telling dance form where wandering players, mostly young Brahmin boys related the stories of India's ancient epics, the Ramayana, the Bhagavadam and the Mahabharata. Kuchipudi was the village, where the performers lived. Today the name of the dance form is known as Kuchipudi. Classical in style, based on ancient techniques, through the centuries it has acquired a new grace and popularity.
