The Dances of Nataraja: Shiva Nataraja’s Dance, Seven Dances, 1008 Dances

Shiva as Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, is the symbol of ecstasy, power, beauty, and possession. There is likely no more recognizable image from Hindu lore. But the posture of Nataraja’s dance is but one of thousands and each and every one has a meaning and tells its own story. In our seminar we will look at the famous Dance of Bliss, the familiar Nataraja, but our objective is deepen and broaden our vision of the Dancer. We’ll focus on Seven Dances and learn the steps it will take to fathom the nearly innumerable forms Shiva dances. Why does he dance? What does it mean for us, in our own human experience? Can we dance as Shiva dances? Come explore the mythologies, images, and concepts that invite us to ourselves in ways we might not have imagined before.