Author: Ram Krishnamani Date: August 14, 2025
3M With Shantha : Mobile App Series 19 (Charis)
The studio lights were warm as Shantha leaned forward, her eyes bright with enthusiasm, while across from her, Ram smiled knowingly, ready for a deep dive into the heartbeat of Bharatanatyam — the charis.
Shantha began, explaining that charis, the leg movements, were not mere steps, but the very framework on which the dance rests. Ram nodded, adding that without mastering charis, a dancer’s balance, rhythm, and grace remain incomplete.
Together, they painted a picture of ancient temples where dancers would practice these movements for hours, their footwork echoing in stone corridors. Shantha pointed out that charis link the dancer to the ground, grounding the body while freeing the spirit, and Ram described how they create seamless transitions, giving the dance its fluid storytelling.
Shantha recalled that how for a dancer in her early training days — the ache in her legs, the sweat, and the slow realisation that every chari was a meditation. Ram emphasised that in the Shall We Dance! app, charis are broken down into visual sequences so learners can truly feel the geometry and flow. Shantha laughed, saying that modern students often want the “magic” without the “miles,” but charis demand both patience and discipline.
They spoke of how these movements connect physical endurance with spiritual depth, and Ram concluded that charis are the invisible threads binding Nṛtta, Nṛtya, and Nāṭya into one living art.
Shantha then invited listeners to explore these movements in the app, promising they’d never look at a single step the same way again, before introducing “Charis: Mapping the Dance”, a sub-chapter in the app that guides users through every detail of this timeless foundation.
