Summer At the Banyan Tree

Where

At a BART / public transit accessible dance studio in Berkeley. The exact location is provided to participants only.

When

July 2 - 5 | 10AM - 5PM

Who

All adults (ages 18+) are welcome to join. Whether you have never danced before, have learned bharatanatyam for years, or have experience with other dance forms, we will tailor this program to the unique experiences of our participants. 

We hope to make this space inclusive for folks of all backgrounds, abilities, castes, genders, sizes, and classes, so if anything about this program piques your interest, please reach out so we can try to accommodate you. 

What

We are offering a four-day camp for people interested in exploring the basics of bharatanatyam under a unique teaching format. Each day will provide lessons in the history, theory, and movement fundamentals of bharatanatyam. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their life experiences through individual exercises, choreography experiments, and community-building activities. Participants will play with bharatanatyam and create their own dance stories in a safe and encouraging space. 

Cost

Banyan Natyam begins at $600 for the full four-day program, including an initial deposit of $150.

 These costs enable us to provide: 

• All the materials needed for your participation in our program.

• Delicious snacks that meet your stated dietary needs.

• A daily nutritious lunch for each day of the program. 

• Thoughtful programming that meets many physical accessibility needs.

• High-quality, joyful instruction tailored to your cohort’s preferences.

We offer scholarships if the cost prohibits you from participating. We will also support you in finding gear for this trip, such as sleeping bags, outdoors clothes, etc if needed. Please reach out to info@the-banyan-tree.org for more information on receiving a scholarship. We welcome contributions beyond the stated cost to help us provide scholarships for any participants who need them.

Lead Instructors

Banyan Natyam is crafted and run by Nivetha Ketheeswaran and Renuka Garg. We each come to this camp with distinct relationships to bharatanatyam, and we hope to build a camp that teaches us as much as it teaches you. 

Nivetha has been practicing bharatanatyam for 25 years and has taught children and young adults for 10 years. For Nivetha, bharatanatyam has been a source of play and self expression. Her dissertation explored the complex relationships South Asians have with bharatanatyam. She is excited to explore how bharatanatyam can serve as a practice that embraces joy and self reflection at the Banyan Tree. 

Renuka has danced all her life, starting with sick rhythmic bounces at age 2 and eventually moving into bharatanatyam and Bollywood cinema dance by age 4. She has witnessed through both lived experience and studying history how exclusive mainstream bharatanatyam spaces can be, which is why she is excited to build a dance space at The Banyan Tree that is inclusive, inquisitive, and fun. To do so, she takes a lot of inspiration from her current position as a company dancer with Duniya Dance & Drum Company!

We are grateful for the talented team of community partners and advisors that make this program possible.

Timeline

Registration for Banyan Natyam camps is open now and will be closing on May 10, 2026. Join us for our introduction sessions in February and March (details forthcoming) to learn about us, understand our approach, and get any lingering questions answered. 

Non-refundable deposits must be received by May 15, and full camp fees are due by June 15.

For any questions about Banyan Natyam, please reach out to Nivetha (nivetha@the-banyan-tree.org) and Renuka (renuka@the-banyan-tree.org).