[Photograph of Bharatanatyam dancers performing onstage at Burnaby South Secondary School]

Photograph of an unidentified group of Bharatanatyam dancers performing onstage at Burnaby South Secondary School in British Columbia for a dance recital presented by Sulochana Dance Academy.

Established in 1991 and located in Surrey, British Columbia, Sulochana Dance Academy offers a comprehensive training program in Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form from India. Led by founder and artistic director Sheila Sikham, students at the academy are taught the expressiveness and technical aspects of this traditional dance form, as well as the cultural traditions integral to the art. As students advance through the program, they are taught various artistic pieces which form a Bharatanatyam margam (repertoire). Graduates are supported in presenting their Arangetram, or graduation performance, a vital tradition of Bharatanatyam.

Bharatanatyam, a classical dance style of India, is indigenous to the Tamil Nadu region and prevalent in southern India. Bharatanatyam serves the expression of Hindu religious themes and devotions. Bharatanatyam was originally performed exclusively by female temple dancers and was not brought to the stage for public performance until about 1930.

Burnaby South Secondary School is one of eight secondary schools within the Burnaby School District. Burnaby South Secondary School and The British Columbia Provincial School for The Deaf are both located on one campus within the Burnaby School District. The current building opened in 1993 in south central Burnaby, incorporating many of the latest building, communication and computer technologies available.