Exponent, teacher and practitioner of Vedic Dance, Rebecca Busch introduces us to the beautiful, blissful world of Vedic dance as an art form for health, happiness, energy and creativity while enjoying growth of consciousness. This is the first in a series of insightful articles by Rebecca on Vedic Dance for full development of life.
Dance is a universal expression of bliss, energy, and creativity. We ‘dance with joy’ when inner happiness is so full it overflows. We naturally express joy through dance, and we can enliven joy by practising dance, generating happiness, health, balance, and well-being.
This series of articles will discuss the power of Vedic Dance. I’ll share personal experiences and highlight unique, therapeutic elements of Indian Classical Dance, specifically the South Indian dance form Bharata Natyam, in light of Maharishi Vedic Science and Technology, the science and technology of consciousness for the full development of life.
The Indian arts are interconnected, and in Indian classical dance music, poetry, movement and drama come together as one. The universal and beneficial nature of dance is recognized in the Sanskrit text on the performing arts, the Natyashastra, which states that nritta (dance) is naturally loved by people and is praised as auspicious. Dance creates beauty and should be part of festive occasions as a source of enjoyment.[1] In South India, traditions of dance were cultured for centuries by highly trained artists in temples and royal courts. Dance provided entertainment as well as a deeper value of efficacy, with the ability to transform dancer, audience and environment and create an auspicious influence of fortune, vitality, and well-being.
Bharata Natyam – Vedic Dance Like ‘Flowing Yoga’
It was during a meditation course that I was first introduced to Bharata Natyam in the tradition of T. Balasaraswati. I was deeply moved by the music, the movements and precise gestures, the richness of expression and storytelling. There was a tremendous power and grace, a strength and femininity, and I fell in love with the art form. Having studied many forms of dance over the years, I could feel that this form was unique in its ability to culture my holistic development, and I continue to feel the transformative effects after practicing and performing Bharata Natyam for over 15 years. During my years studying ballet I had used Yoga to recover from strain. Bharata Natyam felt like ‘flowing yoga,’ inherently nourishing for my body, mind, heart, and soul. It is artistically rich as well as therapeutic.
As a teacher of Bharata Natyam, it’s thrilling to see the transformation in students even after only a few days of practice. Students report feeling happier, stronger, more relaxed and energized. Long-standing physical complaints disappear and emotions become more balanced. Anxiety is reduced and clarity and confidence increase. Women often report feeling more in touch with their femininity and an increased sense of ease and well-being.
The courses I teach are often in Vedic Dance, including Bharata Natyam practice and theory complemented with group practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM) and its advanced techniques. This combination is magical, as the energy, creativity, and bliss that is enlivened through meditation finds an exceptional channel of artistic expression. The coherence and wholeness that is experienced within, with the eyes closed, becomes embodied and demonstrated in the coherent and beautiful movements of dance.
TM is a tool to help any dancer achieve excellence. It is the foundational technique in the Vedic tradition of knowledge, revived by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, which provides a practical and complete blueprint for unfolding the full potential of the individual and creating peace and harmony in society. Maharishi explains that Veda, total knowledge, is realized through direct experience, and has practical benefits for all areas of life.
Through TM, we can directly experience our own inner silence—transcendental consciousness—the most settled, unified level of awareness, the state of Yoga. When we transcend, our physiology gains a deep state of rest, mind-body coordination is strengthened, and brain coherence increases.[2] This coherence correlates with peak performance.[3] It is the basis for skill in action and sets the stage for fulfillment in life.
Performing from the state of Yoga, transcendental bliss-consciousness, empowers the dancer and enriches the dance. As Maharishi reveals, “Yoga is the basis of an integrated life, a means of bringing into harmony the inner creative silence and outer activity of life, and a way to act with precision and success.”[4] This is the core of Vedic Dance.
Established in Inner Silence, Yet Engaged in Dance
One experience of Vedic Dance reported by students is that of being in ‘the zone’ – witnessing the movements of the dance as if they are being performed in slow motion. Fully engaged in the dance yet established in silence, one is able to put all energy, consciousness, and heart into each and every movement. This is when the creative process can be enjoyed to its fullest, and with a sense of great freedom and bliss. As one student described, ‘As the steps become faster, inner silence increases, and this combination of inner silence and outer dynamism is joyful.’
Maharishi explains that Indian classical dance is the most natural and complete technology for enlivening the relationship between transcendental self-referral Being and its expression in the world of physiology.[5] Coupled with the experience of transcending, Indian classical dance is a powerful technique for our development. It refines the physiology and integrates transcendental bliss-consciousness into activity, allowing the joy of life to naturally blossom.
In the next article in this series, I’ll discuss the aspects of Indian classical dance that promote health and well-being.
Rebecca Busch is a certified teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique and member of the faculty of Vedic Dance for the Maharishi Colleges of Perfect Health International. Rebecca is also an Advisor for the Performing Arts – Vedic Dance, for the Academy of Arts for Enlightenment. Rebecca teaches and performs Bharata Natyam, South Indian dance, in the tradition of T. Balasaraswati. She loves to share the powerful practices of TM and dance with people from all over the world.
[1] The Natyashastra: A Treatise on Dramaturgy and Histrionics Ascribed to Bharata Muni. trans. Manomohan Ghosh. Bibliotheca Indica Work No. 272. (Calcutta: The Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1951). Ch 4, v 267-269. https://archive.org/details/NatyaShastra. Please link to website
[2] International Journal of Neuroscience. 13: 211-217, 1981; 15: 151-157.
[3] Harung, Harald S. and Travis, Frederick. Excellence through Mind-Brain Development: The Secrets of World-Class Performers. (Surrey, England: Gower Publishing, 2015).
[4] Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the Bhagavad Gita Chapters 1-6 (Penguin Books, 1969), 135-136.
[5] Maharishi Colleges of Perfect Health International Announces its Department of Dance Therapy [Brochure]. 2019, Maharishi Vedic University Ltd & Maharishi Foundation Ltd. Jersey