NRITYA GRAM- GERARD DA CUNHA

Nrityagram is India's first modern Gurukul (residential school) for Indian classical
dances and an intentional community in the form of a dance village, set up by Odissi
dancer Protima Gauri in 1990. The residential school offers training in Indian classical
dance
forms, Odissi, Mohiniattam, Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali and Manipuri,
eight hours a day, six days a week for seven years, following the ancient Guru-shishya
tradition. Designed by famous Indian architect Gerard da Cuhna, the community is
situated near Hesaraghatta Lake 30 km from Bengaluru.

The word Nrityagram, literally translated, means "dance village" and in founder,
Protima Gauri's own words,
It is a community of dancers in a forsaken place amidst nature. A place where nothing
exists, except dance. A place where you breathe, eat, sleep, dream, talk, imagine - dance.
A place where all the five senses can be refined to perfection. A place where dancers
drop negative qualities such as jealousy, small-mindedness, greed and malice to
embrace their colleagues as sisters and support each other in their journey towards
becoming dancers of merit.

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Nritya gram designed by Gerard Da Cunha follows Vernacular style of architecture.

Vernacular architecture is a category of architecture based on localized needs and

construction material, and reflecting local tradition.

It tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural, technological, and
historical context in which it exists. While often not thoroughly and academically
planned, this kind architecture played and still plays a major role in the history of
architecture and design, especially in local branches.

Temple at the entrance of Nritya gram

Designed and built by Ray Meeker in 1998.

It is fashioned from the row mud of the locality and was fired after it was built.

It is decorated with panels depicting the elements, dance motifs, mudras and design
costumes and jewels.

Inside is granite rock scooped out to hold water and flame that stays lit.

At present the area in front of the temple is used as yoga centre and also used for
meditation.

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 Guest Cottages

Raymond’s Gurukul

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-Many built parts are of stone masonry.

-Usages of arches at many places have been done.

-Arches were supported by pressure no mortar between them.

-Arches are used to support staircase and also used as entrances at some place.

-The columns and the beams are set without mortar.

-Lots of importance given to natural ventilation and sky lights.

Conclusion-

Nrityagram represents Indian classical dance form and the structure is totally built in
vernacular style it is also eco-friendly dance village and a residential school and it
connects human mind-set with nature. This centre is best for enhancing the Indian
traditional dance form and also it is well designed in vernacular architectural style.

Nritya Gram Shridhar.D A-07