In one moment, the dancers stomp on the stage with eye-blinking speed, landing in complicated combinations and holding their torsos in some seriously uncomfortable-looking stances. In the next, they float gracefully across the floor, some even dancing on the rims of tin plates while bedecked in jingling jewelry from head to ankle.If you attended MELA or Culture X in past years, this classical South Indian dance called Bharathanatyam should sound familiar. Prerna Bhargava '07, Sravanthi Madala '07 and Mohini Jangi '07, who regularly perform at such events, decided this semester to share their skills with less experienced dancers by teaching a beginner's Bharathanatyam-or "b-nat"-class once a week. "We had quite a few requests to offer a class after people saw us perform," said Bhargava, who choreographs the shows along with Madala and Jangi.

The number of participants fluctuates week to week, but remains fairly low-at a recent lesson, there were two teachers for two students. But they are unfazed.

"If there is even one person on campus that wants to learn, I'll teach it to them, because it is such a beautiful art form and is definitely worth learning," Madala said.

Both Bhargava, who has danced for 17 years and Madala, who has danced for 14, said training has deepened their connection to their Indian culture. "It has given me a medium in which to combine my Indian and American cultures to create a fusion that I am proud of," Bhargava said.

After nearly an hour of going over basic positions and steps last Monday, it was apparent that Bharathanatyam was in fact as hard as it looks as students' unaccustomed legs seemed to scream, "Are you joking?" Eventually, however, the sense of progress and those lovely endorphins seemed to overcome the physical effort involved.

When asked about her hopes for the classes, Bhargava said, "I hope that our students get a sense of familiarity with the dance form. It takes many years to perfect and therefore, we do not expect anyone to fully learn all the intricacies of the dance."

The always enthusiastic Madala said she also hopes they gain "a sense of discipline and self-respect, and most of all, to learn something fun!"

Next semester, Bhargava, Madala, and Jangi plan to host a classical dance show on campus, and hope their students from the current class will perform in it as well. Until then, the Bharathanatyam dancers will next perform during MELA, the South Asian Student Association's annual culture show, on Nov. 18.

Classes are held Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in the Village Multipurpose Room. For more information, e-mail Sravanthi Madala at scmadala@brandeis.edu.