Classical Indian Dance Gurukul

The Indian Dance gurukul with its leisurely, residential, gurukul structure gives the young dancer an opportunity to delve into the finer points of the art that a typical Indian Dance ‘hobby’class does not have the space for. Beginning with fitness & nutrition, it also encompasses the yogic concepts that are encased in its aesthetics. The spiritual disciplines at the ashram in the form of yoga, meditation & temple worship makes it possible for the dancers to ‘Walk The Talk’.

  •  To understand the importance of practice as a sadhana and not just as a preparation for a dance performance.
  •  To understand that the dance is a part of Life & not a mere performance and profession.
  • To understand the deep inter connectedness between classical Indian dance, nature and the environment.
  • To detox for the mind-body-intellect and emotions
  • To learn to live in simplicity.
  • To learn from Nature’s Book.

Standard Modules
Yoga & Meditation
Environmental Treks
Invoking the Divine
Interactive Dialogues
Primary modules
Understanding the aesthetics of classical Indian dance
Performing Techniques
Rasabhinaya – practice & philosophy
Hastabhinaya
Dance meditations
Secondary Modules
Holistic Living (food, nature, philosophy)
Classical music

2 Primary Modules + 1 Secondary Module + Standard Modules (for a 3 nights 4 day retreat)
All programmes include Community service (Seva)

A typical cultural awareness experience retreat is for 3 nights 4 days.
It can be designed for 1 night 2 days or 2 nights 3 days, longer retreats for a week to ten days are also offered. You can also work with us to build your program

A typical day at the retreat is
6.00 am Wake up
6.30 – 8.00 am Meditation & Yoga
8.00 am – 10.00 am Bath & breakfast
10.30 am – 12.30 pm Module
1.00 – 2.00 pm Lunch
2.00 pm – 3.30 pm Rest
4.00 pm – 6.00 pm Module
8.30 pm Dinner
10.00 pm Retire

The itinerary is subject to change depending upon the need of the program.

  •  All those who are undergoing classical Indian dance training.
  •  Those who are preparing for an arangetram.
  • Those who are teachers of classical Indian dance.
  • Those who are professional dancers..
  • Observers are welcome in all the above programs.

Interested ?

Programs you may like 

Similar to the Silence, solitude & seva programme; this programme is for serious artists who wish to comtemplete on their art, conceptualise new work or experiment with another idiom. It offers the artist privacy and solitude to listen to his creative voice. Community work is an integral part of this programme.

The Ashram

An educational-cultural centre dedicated to study and practice of classical Indian arts and sciences with a spiritual and environmental consciousness.

A gurukul is a community space in which the inmates share responsibilities & resources. It is free of distinctions of caste & creed. Its values are of plain living and high thinking; of intense introversion and austere living, along with rigorous practice of a chosen discipline.

Shaktiyogashrama is committed to the values of living in a commune. But it is a commune that is held together not by dogmatic religious beliefs but by the humanitarian values of love, peace & universal brotherhood.At Shaktiyogashrama this very spirit of the Gurukul system is embodied within all that we are and all that we practice.

In an ashram gurukul founded by a realized seer every space is sacred as it carries the footprint of the master. Thus Shaktiyogashrama exudes an intense but quiet spiritual energy that is localized in the triadic sacred spaces. Swami Shri Harish Madhukar’s personal residence or ‘ Babaji’s Kutir’, his Samadhi and the small and humble unostentatious temple that houses his beloved goddess Bhagavati constitute the sacred space.

Swami Shri Harish Madhukar believed in spontaneous living and as such, few rules and regulations are imposed on the inmates. Like all ashrams, the rules are to protect the environment and property of the ashram, to not disturb other inmates and above all to uphold the vision and values of the space.

Participants are requested to not carry their urban stress, consumerism, extroversion, shallow entertainment forms and digital obsessions to the ashram so that learning can happen.

We are a drug, alcohol, smoking and meat free campus. The community abides by a few agreements and we ask for your help in continuing to abide by them.
We are taking some steps to make this gurukul a low waste zone and we request for your help in reducing waste (of all kinds) during your visit. Participants are requested do not bring packaged snacks or stuff that will generate waste here. In case if you do get them, then we request you to carry your waste out with you when you leave.
The ambience encourages living close to nature, living in simplicity and living with an inner discipline.

The ashram-gurukul was envisioned to revive the values of holistic living, cultural rootedness
and emphasise the need for spiritual orientation in education.

The space is dedicated to study and practice of classical Indian arts and sciences with a spiritual and environmental consciousness.
The residential short term programs area an integration of spirituality, ecology, lifestyle and the classical arts – with an emphasize that yoga is the chief goal of all these disciplines.
The rural initiative is an integral area of the gurukul, with a view to empower, educate, to build self-esteem, inculcate the scientific temperament and to introduce an arts culture.

Set in a remote and idyllic location, away from the distractions and din of city life, the Ashram is a haven for those wishing to practice sadhna, explore nature and practice their disciplines in sclience.

Babaji scouted the entire Peth, Shahpur, Telbaila and Bhamburde village in Maharashtra for days on end before he set his heart on the beautiful scenic land in Telbaila village that was surrounded by mountains on all sides. Located in the midst of nature in all its glory, the Ashram is placed 32 kms away from its closest urban dwelling, Lonavla.

The valley is situated in the midst of mango trees and bamboo forests with seasonal waterfalls. It is cradled by the serene yet formidable mountains that surround it on all sides. A Durga temple on the top of mountain is a popular trekking and hiking point.