PEDAGOGY
( TRAINING ) :
Students
aged seven years and above are admitted, after due scrutiny of
their Application Forms and after testing their aptitude. As a
policy, preference in admission is given to deserving applicants
belonging to lower economic strata; after sometime, and depending
on their progress, classes are declared as FREE for those who,
in the opinion of the institution deserve such help. The application
form does not contain a column for religion, caste or community.
But discipline is a must. The students are from many parts of
India (and some times abroad, including a few holding scholarships
from Govt. of India). They are also from various social segments
of society. It is relevant to mention here that the students include
daughters of postmen, masons, bus conductors, drivers, cart-men
and even tribals. Director K. Subrahmanyam Memorial Trust gives
scholarships and stipends to a few bright students who are trained
as Teachers and Research Assistants. A few who have completed
the Teachers' Training Course are now well settled in other institutions
or in their own Centres, started in their respective places, affiliated
to Nrithyodaya.
The
pedagogy system is based on Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam's research
findings. The courses are systematically based on syllabus, with
annual examinations in Dance (Practicals and Theory), Music (Vocal/Instrumental),
Sanskrit, Yoga, "Nama Sankirtan" and Vedic Heritage.
Sanskrit is compulsory to enable the students to understand "Natya
Sastra" and other works. Non-Tamilian students are advised
to develop a working knowledge of Tamil to help them to grasp
the meaning of the lyrics. Basic aspects of Indology are also
taught to the students.