Indian classical dance, Bharata Natyam

Born in the ancient temples of Tamil Nadu as a devotional  ritual, Bharata Natyam is a refined classical dance style of India. Jewel of Tamil Nadu and a kind of poetry in movement, Bharata Natyam counts on a very powerful technique based on precise rhythm and steps (adavu), hand gestures (mudra), head and eyes movements (shiro and drishti bheda), neck and feet movements (greeva and padha bedha)- easy to master only after many years of constant practice. Daniela follows with devotion the Kalakshetra Lineage of Chennai classical dance style and teaches authentic and traditional classes of stepping and choreographies, according to different levels (Puspanjali, Alaripu, Jathiswaram,  Keertanam, Padham, Shabdam, Tillana, Varnam).

Devadasi Temple Dance©

   The sacred dance of the devadasis developed in ancient India as an embodiment of the Divine. Devadasi Temple Dance© is inspired by devotional and sensual poses, sacred movements and  gestures, ritualistic embodiments. Cultivating the sacred origin of Indian Dances, Daniela guides her students into an inner journey, animating their prayers through refined and ritualistic gestures and steps. These classes include gentle, sensual and grounding steps, to awake even more subtle feminine energies of the body and spirit. These sequences are often composed and inspired by the temple sculptures of India and priestess rituals, with the traditional mantra and secret mudra, including their rich mythological stories. Daniela supports her students with inspiration and spiritual wisdom, to embody their Sacred Feminine, and to discover deep knowledge, power and intuition.

Daniela Riva is a refined dancer of deep devotion, an expert of Sacred Dance of India, unique teacher of Indian Dance and master teacher of Yoga, having dedicated most of her life to dance and two decades to the practice of the ancient arts of India. Daniela embodies in her classes and dance immersions the spiritual essence of the Devadasi – the priestess of India, to share the mysteries of the temple dances with all women. Daniela guides her students to open to the awareness and beauty of their body temple and discover the inner power of transformation encoded in this ancient sacred temple art. She supports women’s holistic health with Goddess wisdom and traditional Tantric rituals. Daniela is registered as E-RYT 500, Experienced Yoga Teacher Pathaway with Yoga Alliance.

A Bridge Between East and West

Daniela teaches in Europe, America and India. Graduated cum laude in Modern Literature at Universita’ degli Studi of Milan in Italy with a thesis on the “Theatredance in Italy”, and after many years of experience in classical ballet, contemporary dance and experimental theatre, Daniela had been blessed with the opportunity to study the theory and practice of the Indian classical dance style Bharata Natyam in one of the most prestigious academy of India, Kalakshetra Foundation of Fine Arts. Granted of a scholarship from ICCR/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Daniela started an intense traditional training of Indian classical dance, chants and Yoga with her gurus in Chennai, in Tamil Nadu. Living long period of Indian Dance and Yoga studies in South India for more than a decade, Daniela absorbed the fascinating history of temple dances, the devotional culture, spiritual philosophy and traditional life style of India. She had been researching about Sacred Dances for years in the “Theosophical Society” in Adyar, at the Krisnhamurty foundation and at the Kalakshetra Library, in Chennai. She had also learning folk dances of India, the basic of Odissi classical dance style, at Pondicherry’s Ashram, embodiment ritual tantric gestures in India.

Daniela had been absorbing Indian Dances as a lifestyle and she integrated it with the disciplines of Yoga and Ayurveda. She had been trained in the Viniyoga at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram of Chennai and in the full primary series of the Mysore Ashtanga Yoga with Rolf&Marci Naujokat in Goa, in India. She also been undergone an intense training of traditional oil massage Abhyangam and elements of nutrition of Ayurveda, in Kerala. Her teachers blessed her and appointed her to begin sharing this ancient dance of the Sacred Feminine, and since then she has been performing and teaching in all Europe, US and India to hundreds of students. Daniela embodies in her classes and dance immersions the spiritual essence of the Devadasi – the dancing priestess of India, to share the mysteries of the temple dances with all women. Following traditional Yogic and Ayurvedic principles, she guides her students to open to the awareness and beauty of their body temple and discover the inner power of transformation encoded in this ancient sacred art. A bridge between East and West, Daniela’s devotion for Indian tradition and love to her students makes her way of teaching unique, as she continues perpetuating the tradition, making it contemporary for everybody. Daniela is currently based in Europe and travels constantly  for her teachings and studies in India. Daniela is registered as E-RYT 500, Experienced Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and offers global trainings.