Dance, yoga and Spanish with Riya Barman
Kathak, Rabindra Nritya and Bollywood dance, gentle yoga, and conversational Spanish — taught live online, or in person at Prana Valley, our sister homestay in Mandrem, North Goa.
Classes
Every class is live, one-to-one or in a small group. Beginners are very welcome; so are people coming back after a long gap.
Kathak and Rabindra Nritya from the ground up: tatkaar, chakkars, hastak and abhinaya, with the bols and the music that go with them. I also trained with Shiamak Davar in Bollywood style, so when you're ready we can work on film choreography, performance and improvisation.
Slow, breath-led practice for bodies that sit all day: standing postures, gentle flows, longer holds and a few quiet minutes at the end. No experience needed, and nothing to prove. Mornings work best, on the rooftop in Goa or on your own mat at home.
Conversational Spanish from a working translator. We speak from the first lesson: greetings, travel, ordering, everyday situations, and we build the grammar underneath as we go. Good for a trip, a move, or simply because you've always wanted to.
Where
Sessions run on Google Meet or Zoom, 60 minutes, one-to-one or in a small group. Times are in IST, with early-morning and evening slots that work for Europe and the Americas too.
A four-room nature homestay in Mandrem, with a yoga space, healthy home-cooked meals and a lot of green, a short ride from Ashwem and Arambol beaches. Stay for a week and take a class every morning, or drop in for a single session if you're nearby.
Not in Goa? I'm often in Bangalore, Kolkata and the Dooars, so ask about in-person sessions there too.
About
That's my name on Instagram and YouTube. I'm from the Dooars, the tea-garden foothills of North Bengal, and dance is where everything began: Kathak and Rabindra Nritya first, then Bollywood style, trained by Shiamak Davar.
Along the way I became a Spanish translator, found yoga, and started sharing all three online, usually from a rooftop, often with a dog in the frame. Teaching is how I keep learning, and I'd rather teach a small class well than a big one badly.
It's all about the journey of our souls.
Watch
Technique breakdowns, compositions and the occasional rooftop rehearsal. New uploads show up here automatically.
Book
Tell me what you'd like to learn and where you are, and I'll come back with times and fees. Every class has a trial session, so you can see whether we're a fit before booking more.
1
Send the form or a WhatsApp message with what you'd like to learn. I reply within a day, usually much faster.
2
One session to find your level and see how we work together. Online it's a video link; in Goa it's the rooftop at Prana Valley.
3
Weekly slots, one-to-one or in a small group. Fees depend on format and frequency; I'll share them before you commit to anything.
No. Most people start from zero, in all three subjects. If you have some background, the trial class is where we work out where to begin.
A laptop or phone propped up so I can see you, a stable connection, and a little space. For dance, a couple of metres of floor; for yoga, a mat; for Spanish, a notebook.
Per session or in packs, paid by UPI or bank transfer in India and by card or PayPal from abroad. I'll send current rates when you enquire, and there's no charge until you've had a trial.
Yes, that's the idea. Book your room at pranavalley.in, tell me your dates, and we'll plan a class each morning around your stay.
Sí. Dance and yoga classes can be taught in Spanish or English, whichever you're more comfortable in.