Rooted in tradition and guided by accomplished practitioners, Spanda brings Indian classical arts and visual traditions into a contemporary learning environment where children, adults, beginners and advanced practitioners can learn, practice and grow.
Our approach is simple: learn the art properly, understand its foundations, and allow it to become part of your life.
With centres in Al Quoz, Al Nahda and Dubai Investment Park (DIP), Spanda offers regular classes, workshops, performances and opportunities for students to engage deeply with Indian arts and culture.
BHARATANATYAM
Bharatanatyam, one of India's most celebrated classical dance traditions, is taught as a serious discipline in Spanda. With particular emphasis on strong foundations, clarity of technique, theoretical understanding, and disciplined practice, Spanda is a place where you can learn Bharatanatyam in a holistic manner.
Our training follows the Kalakshetra bani, while giving students opportunities to understand and explore the art form in contemporary contexts. Classes are available for children from age 5 onwards, teenagers and adults, from beginner to advanced levels.
Whether a student is taking their first steps in Bharatanatyam or progressing towards advanced training, the focus remains the same: to build a strong dancer through a deep understanding of the art.
Over the years, Spanda students have gone on to become accomplished young performers, participating in and being invited to dance festivals, cultural events and performances across India, the UAE and internationally.
For us, the measure of good training is not simply how quickly a student can perform.
It is how well they understand, how clearly they move, how deeply they engage with the art, and how far they can eventually take it.
CARNATIC MUSIC
Carnatic Music is a classical music tradition of South India, shaped over centuries through a rich body of compositions, intricate rhythms and a deeply evolved system of melody.
At Spanda, students learn Carnatic Music through a structured progression that begins with the fundamentals and gradually opens up to the richness of the vocal tradition. Training to understand and hold the Shruti, achieving clarity and steadiness of Swaras while simultaneously learning the talam through simple beginner friendly lessons form an important part of the training, but the aim goes beyond learning musical concepts.
Our programs are designed for children, teenagers and adults, from complete beginners to students who wish to pursue more advanced Carnatic Music training. You do not need to already know a South Indian language to learn Carnatic Music. Students are guided through the pronunciation, meaning and context of the compositions they learn, so that language becomes part of the learning rather than a prerequisite for beginning it.
As students progress, they are introduced to a wider repertoire of varnams, kritis and other traditional compositions, learning not only how to sing them, but how to understand and present them with musicality.
The learning also extends beyond the classroom. Students have opportunities to perform, participate in studio recording experiences, attend workshops and experience Carnatic Music from a close quarter.
Whether a child is discovering South Indian classical music for the first time or an adult is returning to a musical tradition they grew up with, Spanda provides the guidance and environment to develop a genuine relationship with the music.
KERALA MURAL PAINTING
Kerala Mural Painting is a distinctive painting style from the temples of Kerala. Kerala Mural Painting is instantly recognisable for its bold colours, fluid figures, ornamentation and detailed compositions, with imagery drawn largely from the visual culture of Kerala.
At Spanda, students learn to create these works step by step, beginning with drawing motifs and learning proportion before moving into the colour work and figures of Kerala Mural Painting.
The process demands patience and observation. And that is what makes the experience so rewarding. You are not simply following a painting tutorial and reproducing a picture but learning how a Kerala Mural Painting is constructed.
Our Kerala Mural Painting classes and workshops are open to teenagers (15+) and adults, including complete beginners. No previous painting experience is required.
For those who enjoy working with their hands, or simply want to discover a slower and more contemplative space for themselves, Kerala Mural Painting offers a beautiful place to begin.
ART CLASSES
At Spanda, our Art Classes for Kids and Adults are designed as an open, evolving space for learning, experimenting and finding your own way of creating.
For children, the journey begins with the basics: hand training, line work, shapes and dimensions. From there, students are introduced to different materials and techniques, including colouring, pencil shading, watercolours, acrylic painting and more.
As their skills and interests develop, students can spend more time exploring the mediums and styles they are naturally drawn towards.
For adults, the experience can be very different. Most adults come with no formal art training and simply want to learn. Others already have an interest and want the guidance and time to develop it further. Students have worked on everything from detailed Indian miniature paintings and traditional Indian imagery to contemporary compositions and explorations across different mediums.
There is no single path through our Art Classes.
You might come to learn how to draw. You might discover that you love watercolour. You might spend months working on a single style. Or you might simply enjoy having a place where you can create.
Our Art Classes are open to children, teenagers and adults, with learning adapted to the student's age, experience and interests.
