The Dhananjayans have been conducting the summer Gurukulam camps at the Satchidananda Ashram, Yogaville, Virgina, USA, continuously from 1988. The camp is usually held in the July-August time of the year enabling dancers from the USA and other parts of the world to take part. This camp, a concentrated course developed by the Natya Adyayana Gurukulam, in the beautiful Virginia countryside, has helped spread awareness of Indian culture and values to American born Indian children, and other students of different parts of the globe, to understand the values of Indian art and culture, and of course, philosophy and significance of our Indian mythology and the characters in the epics. It is an intensive, fulltime residential course devoted entirely to the fine arts. Theory of Bharatanaatyam is taught along with its origin, development and philosophic content. Carnatic music and study of Samskritam go hand-in-hand with the dance lessons. Yoga is taught and practiced to improve stamina. So is meditation to improve concentration. 

For the rest of the year, at the Fine Arts society, Yogaville, one of the Dhananjayans’ top senior disciples Padmarani Rasaih Cantu, trains pupils from Buckingham and the surrounding counties. Padmarani Cantu is the full-time instructor in the Fine Arts society of Yogaville. 

The children who attend this summer camp come from all over the globe, but a majority from the US. Camps for American children means fun and it took a while for the camp participants to realize that this was a camp with a difference. With love and patience, the Dhananjayans have won over the confidence of these initially confused children who were torn between obeying their parents’ dictate to learn Indian values and following the American way of life. 

The children who attend the camp spread the education they receive at the camp to their friends, who in turn, speak to their friends and so on, the chain reaction increasing the popularity of the Yogaville camp year by year. Some teachers also attend the camp as a refresher course for themselves, reflected in the remarkably high standard of instruction in their dance schools. 

No distinction is made for students of different schools of Bharatanaatyam. For the Dhananjayans, there are only two styles - the good and the bad. 

July - August 2010
22ND YOGAVILLE SUMMER GURUKULAM  CAMP WILL COMMENCE ON JULY 3RD 2010. 

FIRST CAMP JULY 3RD TO 24TH 
AND 
SECOND CAMP FROM JULY 25TH TO AUGUST 3RD 
FOR MORE INFORMATION  CONTACT  FAS@yogaville.org  or prcan2@gmail.com

THE FINE ARTS SOCIETY OF YOGAVILLE, VIRGINIA USA CONDUCTED THE 21ST ANNUAL BHARATA-NAATYA ADHYAYANA GURUKUALM  The 2009 Gurukulam camp was held from July 8th to August 3rd 2009 1st camp - (All level)  July 8th - July 25th (18 days)  2nd camp - (Intermediate & Senior)  July 25th - August 3rd - (10 days)  Annual Gurukulam camp at Yogaville, Satchidananda Ashram is a ‘HOME AWAY FROM HOME” .   For  more details and registration kindly contact   Rukmini Rasiah (President Fine Arts Society)   Telefax: 434 969 3210  email: FAS@yogaville.org  Padma Cantu (Artistic Director)   Ph: 804-262-6281  email: prcan2@gmail.com  Details of 2009 camp  General information 1st camp Course details  1st camp Registration  2nd camp Course details & Registration

The 20th Naatya Adhyayana Gurukulam summar camp at Yogaville Virginia, USA - 2008    Details (loads in a new window)

“We were enrolling the participants when a brother and sister came in. The girl looked in astonishment at me and remarked, ‘You are the Guru? You look so primitive!’” 

“She was about 13, wearing brief shorts and a brief t-shirt and in her perception, wearing a dhoti and kurta was primitive to her. On the formal camp inauguration the next day, we had a full-fledged pooja with mantrams, followed by a talk with the parents. 

I called this girl and asked her what her definition of primitive was. In typical American accent, she said half clad, tribal, crude and so on. I asked her how civilization started. She said people started wearing bark, then leaves, then skin and finally covered themselves completely in clothes. With a smile, I asked her how she would describe her extremely brief attire of the earlier day. When she realized the import of her careless remark of the earlier day, she burst into tears and ran away from class! It was not our intention to humiliate anyone; it was just that she realized how the description of primitive had bounced back on her.” 

“She realized how mistaken she was in her values and changed her outlook on life. She is now a doctor and proud of her Indian heritage. Kids who used to hate India started coming to India. Some even worked with Mother Theresa with the Calcutta street children.” 

In this dance camp, the Dhananjayans have followed the same system of learning as in Kalakshetra—the gurukulam. Prompted by the rootless ness in the Indian community in America, they wanted to contribute to the propagation of Indian culture in the minds of the younger generation. 

“When we performed in Yogaville in 1988, I felt that this ashram was an ideal place for learning—just like Kalakshetra. The weekend workshop format was inadequate for learning Bharatanaatyam, so we decided to extend it over a whole month. This way, we can do justice to the art form, and also introduce the idea of a different approach to learning—the gurukulam, of students living with their teachers.” 

The Dhananjayans had to adapt their teaching methods to accommodate the children there, as they found that the expectations and behaviour of the children there were very different from those in India. 

“We had many discussions about the way of life in India. I hope it has corrected their misconceptions about Indians as superstitious and orthodox, and made them feel proud of their cultural background.” 

To children like them everywhere, Dhananjayan, as a teacher, has this to say: 
“Do not feel inferior in a Western society. Do not lose your own identity. You can be justifiably proud of your own culture. You have the potential to be a beautiful dancer, a beautiful person.” 

To the parents, he adds: 
“Parents think that just by learning Bharatanaatyam or Kathak, or Indian classical music, their children will become more Indian…It is not so. They must create an environment in the home to encourage Indian values. Parents must themselves feel proud of being Indian.” 

For course dates or for general information, please contact: 
Natya-Adyayana-Gurukulam Camp 
Fine Arts Society 
Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville 
Buckingham, Virginia 23921 
Ph: (804) - 969 – 3210 
Email: FAS@yogaville.org or prcan2@hotmail.com or swchidananda@yahoo.com 
Calls: 9am – 12 noon, 4pm – 6pm only. 

A few words from students who have participated over the years—