after completing the sixyear course fouryear undergraduate and a twoyear pg programme i chose to take to teaching nidhi adlakha speaks to universities that offer training programmes the courses are strenuous and a combination of theory classes and practical training the fine arts department has graduate and postgraduate courses in painting sculpture and applied arts the maharajahs government college of music and dance vizianagaram andhra pradesh offers fouryear certificate courses and twoyear diploma courses in vocal training violin veena mridangam bharathanatyam nadaswaram and dolu choosing a reputed institute is essential for any artiste as it defines your career path take for instance kalakshetra a chennaibased institute that offers a fouryear diploma in bharathanatyam carnatic music and visual arts and parttime courses in music and visual arts the course had a balance of theory and practical components and included a number of projects as well other career opportunities include academic and research scholars group performers and dance tutors she adds when compared to a few years ago we now see a balance between male and female students hari adds being part of the kalakshetra repertory company gives me the opportunity to perform for the institute nationally and internationally says sathyapriya who now works as a parttime dance tutor at kalakshetra sathyapriya iyer who graduated from the fouryear diploma in bharathanatyam at kalakshetra was later chosen to be part of the prestigious postgraduate programme as well a course in performing arts trains prospective performers in both physical and theoretical aspects of performers with a number of professional courses being offered in universities across the country professional training in a dance form or musical instrument is a growing trend i have also seen people completing their mba and other professional degrees and then making a switch to the arts take for instance n subhaalakshmi who completed her ma in bharatanatyam from the university of madras in 2011 and now works as a teacher it is essential for one to be focused and dedicated towards the art forms to create a successful career as an artist such courses are gaining popularity and over 400 students graduate from the institute each year says dr r kamakshi principal pvs sheshadri former principal at the college stresses on the importance of a judicious mix of theory and practical components in such courses many students go abroad and train further before becoming solo performers courses in dance and music are gaining popularity among youngsters it is essential the institute is recognised and the course widens your expertise as an artiste those who wish to enhance their skills further take up specialised courses research and eventually become individual performers the institute runs a weekend school kalabharati that offers diplomas in vocal hindustani carnatic music tabla sugam sangeet bharatanatyam and kathakali the institute offers graduate and postgraduate programmes specialising in vocal music veena violin and the mridangam apart from courses in bharathanatyam mohiniyattam kathakalivesham kathakalisangeetham kathakalichenda kathakalimaddalam the theory component of our courses that specialise in dance and music focusses