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In an epilogue to our Off Season Chats, we bring a very special roundtable discussion that we led as part of our first collaboration with Rasabodhi Arts Foundation for its 2023 festival EVAM. We co-hosted a panel discussion with six brilliant classical dancers from around the world. Our in-depth conversation was recorded on January 30, and it covers a wide range of topics especially relevant for Indian classical dance in the diaspora, including communities and dance spaces, sustainability and funding, as well as opportunities and hopes for building a new dance future.
We’ve edited the conversation for length and clarity, but you can watch the entire conversation on Rasabodhi Arts Foundation's Facebook page. You can also find our interview with Rasabodhi founder Keerthana Ravi on episode 1 of Off Season Chats. EVAM 2023 will be available for viewing through March 7 - you can purchase your tickets on Tikkl.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook for more updates on our other projects at @ameyagking (Ameya) or @kirandance (Kiran). Podcast updates, as always, can be found on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter at @offthebeatdance.
Today’s episode of Off Season Chats would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of our amazing listeners and the following people:
Rasabodhi Arts Foundation (@rasabodhiartsfoundation) and Keerthana Ravi (@keerthanaravi) for bringing together this panel, as well as our esteemed panelists Ashvini Sundaram (@ashvini.sundaram), Kripa Iyer (@iyer_kripa), Nadhi Thekkek (@nadhidances), Neelambaree Prasad (@neelambaree_dance), Rajitha Bharatan (@rajithabharatan), and Sruthi Mohan (@sruthimohan).We Edit Podcasts for audio engineering Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logo And a very special thanks to Wesley Beeks & Bertel King, Jr.Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and other streaming services, subscribe to the podcast, and tell your friends about us so that more people can find this show! You can also join our conversation by following us on social media at @offthebeatdance on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tik Tok or by visiting us at www.offthebeat.dance. We’d love to hear from you.
Off the Beat is a passion project, and we really need your help to make this podcast a long-term and sustainable venture. Please consider supporting us on Patreon at patreon.com/offthebeatdance so that we can continue to bring you more content. And together, we can create a new dance future...one beat at a time!
Off Season Chats is an Off The Beat production.
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Over the past seven weeks, we’ve shared conversations with dancers who move and inspire us in a new series called Off Season Chats. Before we truly wrap up Off Season Chats, we have to bring it to a close OTB style. So, we will reflect on what we’ve learned over the course of these conversations and leave with a call to action.
Themes that emerged over the course of the last seven episodes include sustainability, technology, trusting process, and building community. We’ll also be talking about what our guests said that challenged our own ways of thinking.
We are going on a hiatus for a bit while we take time to focus on some of our other projects as independent artists. But first, we will share a sneak preview of Season 2. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook for more updates on our other projects at @ameyagking (Ameya) or @kirandance (Kiran). Podcast updates, as always, can be found on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter at @offthebeatdance.
Today’s episode of Off Season Chats would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of our amazing listeners and the following people:
We Edit Podcasts for audio engineering Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logo Arts Horizons for the recording space And a very special thanks to Wesley Beeks & Bertel King, Jr.Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and other streaming services, subscribe to the podcast, and tell your friends about us so that more people can find this show! You can also join our conversation by following us on social media at @offthebeatdance on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tik Tok or by visiting us at www.offthebeat.dance. We’d love to hear from you.
Off the Beat is a passion project, and we really need your help to make this podcast a long-term and sustainable venture. Please consider supporting us on Patreon at patreon.com/offthebeatdance so that we can continue to bring you more content. And together, we can create a new dance future...one beat at a time!
Off Season Chats is an Off The Beat production.
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Our last Off Season Chat is a 2-part conversation with Brinda Guha, a NYC-based multifaceted dancer and choreographer who has trained in a variety of styles including: Kathak, Manipuri, Yorchhā, Flamenco, and Contemporary. Last week, Brinda reflected on her artistic journey, and ways to build a dance community responsibly, and the future of South Asian dance at large. This week, she elaborates on the dance community, and how we can build on the wisdom of the previous generations to nurture and hold space for the needs of today and tomorrow.
Off Season Chats is a new series in which we have intimate conversations with dancers who are forging new paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. Our special guests are accomplished artists whose works span across many genres of South Asian dance including: Kathak, Kandyan, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Odissi, and much more.
About Brinda Guha
Brinda Guha identifies as a non-disabled, caste-privileged, cisgender and queer South-Asian American, and is a trained Kathak dancer for over 20 years. During training and performing for years in the Kathak (Malabika Guha) & Manipuri (Kalavati + Bimbavati Devi) dance disciplines, as well as Flamenco (Carmen de las Cuevas; Dionisia Garcia) and Contemporary Fusion vocabularies, she co-founded Kalamandir Dance Company in 2010 based in the vocabulary of #ContemporaryIndian. She’s choreographed for many national stages, the North American Bengali Conference at Madison Square Garden, and self-produced original feature-length dance productions which earned her artist residencies at Dixon Place (2018) and Dancewave (2019) to continue to develop work. Now, she is represented by CESD Talent Agency and is pursuing artistic direction, performance and arts education. She trains in Kathak, Manipuri, Yorchhā (est. Ananya Chatterjee), and Contemporary.
Her dream of having art meet activism was realized when she created WISE FRUIT NYC, a seasonal live arts installment (est 2017) dedicated to the feminine divine and honoring select women-led organizations. For her day job, she works as the Symposium Coordinator for dance service organization based in the values of justice, equity & inclusion: Dance/NYC.
Dive Deeper
Ananya Chatterjea's Yorchha™ movement practice (with video clip)Nrithya Pillai: "Cycles of Cultural Violence within Performance and Scholarship of Bharatanatyam." The News Minute. 21 June 2022. Janete Silva's websiteSoles of Duende at Jacob's Pillow on August 5, 2022Credits
Today’s episode of Off Season Chats would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of our amazing listeners and the following people:
We Edit Podcasts for audio engineering Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logo Wesley Beeks & Bertel King, Jr.Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and other streaming services, subscribe to the podcast, and tell your friends about us so that more people can find this show! You can also join our conversation by following us on social media at @offthebeatdance on IG, FB, Twitter, and Tik Tok or by visiting us at
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Our last Off Season Chat is a two-part conversation with Brinda Guha, a NYC-based multifaceted dancer and choreographer who has trained in a variety of styles including: Kathak, Manipuri, Yorchhā, Flamenco, and Contemporary. This week, Brinda reflects on her artistic journey, ways to build a dance community responsibly, and the future of South Asian dance at large.
Off Season Chats is a new series in which we have intimate conversations with dancers who are forging new paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. Our special guests are accomplished artists whose works span across many genres of South Asian dance including: Kathak, Kandyan, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Odissi, and much more.
About Brinda Guha
Brinda Guha identifies as a non-disabled, caste-privileged, cisgender and queer South-Asian American, and is a trained Kathak dancer for over 20 years. During training and performing for years in the Kathak (Malabika Guha) & Manipuri (Kalavati + Bimbavati Devi) dance disciplines, as well as Flamenco (Carmen de las Cuevas; Dionisia Garcia) and Contemporary Fusion vocabularies, she co-founded Kalamandir Dance Company in 2010 based in the vocabulary of #ContemporaryIndian. She’s choreographed for many national stages, the North American Bengali Conference at Madison Square Garden, and self-produced original feature-length dance productions which earned her artist residencies at Dixon Place (2018) and Dancewave (2019) to continue to develop work. Now, she is represented by CESD Talent Agency and is pursuing artistic direction, performance and arts education. She trains in Kathak, Manipuri, Yorchhā (est. Ananya Chatterjee), and Contemporary. Her dream of having art meet activism was realized when she created WISE FRUIT NYC, a seasonal live arts installment (est 2017) dedicated to the feminine divine and honoring select women-led organizations. For her day job, she works as the Symposium Coordinator for dance service organization based in the values of justice, equity & inclusion: Dance/NYC.
Credits
Today’s episode of Off Season Chats would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of our amazing listeners and the following people:
We Edit Podcasts for audio engineering Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logo Wesley Beeks & Bertel King, Jr.Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and other streaming services, subscribe to the podcast, and tell your friends about us so that more people can find this show! You can also join our conversation by following us on social media at @offthebeatdance on IG, FB, Twitter, and Tik Tok or by visiting us at www.offthebeat.dance. We’d love to hear from you.
Off the Beat is a passion project, and we really need your help to make this podcast a long-term and sustainable venture. Please consider supporting us on Patreon at patreon.com/offthebeatdance so that we can continue to bring you more content. And together, we can create a new dance future...one beat at a time!
Off Season Chats is an Off The Beat production.
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In the fifth episode of Off Season Chats, Ameya & Kiran chat with Colombo-based Kandyan dance teacher, performer, & principal dancer at the world-renowned Chitrasena School of Dance Thaji Dias. She reflects on her artistic journey, upholding a multigenerational family legacy, and how the pandemic and Sri Lanka’s economic struggles are impacting artists.
Off Season Chats is a new series in which we have intimate conversations with dancers who are forging new paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. Our special guests are accomplished artists whose works span across many genres of South Asian dance including: Kathak, Kandyan, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Odissi, and much more.
About Thaji Dias:
Thaji Dias is the youngest granddaughter of Chitrasena and Vajira, the illustrious dance duo of Sri Lanka, and the Principal Dancer of Chitrasena Dance Company, which is Sri Lanka’s oldest and most prestigious dance company. The company was established in the 1940s by Guru Chitrasena, who was instrumental in bringing Sri Lanka’s traditional dances from village rituals to the modern stage. Thaji has been a full-time professional dancer and teacher at the Company since May 2012.
Introduced to Kandyan dance under her grandmother nearly 25 years ago, she began touring with the dance company at age 12 alongside her aunt and Guru Upeka Chitrasena in an international festival in Paris at the Theatre Du Soleil as a guest of Ariane Mnouchkine. Since then, Thaji has toured Taipei (2004), Montpellier, France (2005), New York, USA (2011), Singapore (2012), and India on several occasions.
She also represented the company in their first international collaboration Samhara, with the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble of India. The performance toured the US, including the prestigious Joyce Theater and Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and many parts of India including Music Academy (Chennai) and Konark Festival (Odisha) in 2012, 2013, and 2018.
Instagram: @dancethaji
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thaji.dias
Dive Deeper:
Resistance in Dance: Thaji Dias. Why I Dance: The Chitrasena LegacyNrityagram and ChitrasenaThe Chitrasena legacy: Inspiring story at the Design FestivalPandal-makingToday’s episode of Off Season Chats would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of our amazing listeners and the following people:
We Edit Podcasts for audio engineeringSangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logoWesley Beeks & Bertel King, Jr.Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and other streaming services, subscribe to the podcast, and tell your friends about us so that more people can find this show! You can also join our conversation by following us on social media at @offthebeatdance on IG, FB, Twitter, and Tik Tok or by visiting us at www.offthebeat.dance. We’d love to hear from you.
Off the Beat is a passion project, and we really need your help to make this podcast a long-term and sustainable venture. Please consider supporting us on Patreon at patreon.com/offthebeatdance so that we can continue to bring you more content. And together, we can create a new...
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For a special two-part Off Season Chat, Ameya and Kiran speak with Sai Venkata Gangadhar, a Kuchipudi dancer and teacher from Hyderabad. This week, Gangadhar delves deeper into the impact of social media on dance and the next generation of dancers. He also discusses powerful ways dance can connect, empower, and uplift communities.
Off Season Chats is a new series in which we have intimate conversations with dancers who are forging new paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. Our special guests are accomplished artists whose works span across many genres of South Asian dance including: Kathak, Kandyan, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Odissi, and much more.
Dive Deeper:
Golla Kalapam - traditional Kuchipudi kalapam centered on a milkmaid (Gollabhama) and a priest. Chandalika - Kuchipudi dance drama by Padmabhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam based on Rabindranath Tagore's play of the same name. Tappeta Gullu - Andhra folk tradition, practiced by the Yadhava community Nee Prashnalu (Kotha Bangaru Lokam)About Sai Venkata Gangadhar:
Sai Venkata Gangadhar is a young Kuchipudi dancer from Hyderabad. He has been training at Nishrinkala Dance Academy under Guru Smt. Sandhya Raju for the past 13 years, and he is a postgraduate in Business administration. He also pursued his Masters in Kuchipudi from University of Hyderabad. He is one of the prime students of Smt. Sandhya Raju. Recognizing his dedication, she appointed him as an assistant teacher soon after his Rangapravesham in 2015.
He has participated several times with the Academy’s group ensemble and performed in many prestigious dance festivals including: Sangeet Natak Academy’s Nrityaprathibha festival, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha’s Pongal festivals, Gandharva, and many others. Also trained in gymnastics, he has taken this art as a profession and continuously works to understand and enjoy the nuances of his chosen dance style.
Instagram: @sai_venkata_gangadhar
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgEQ2F_PLAGW8l6ODIruOUQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gagadhar.venkat
Today’s episode of Off Season Chats would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of our amazing listeners and the following people:
We Edit Podcasts for audio engineering Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logo Kasi Aysola for transcription of the Telugu portions Wesley Beeks & Bertel King, Jr.Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and other streaming services, subscribe to the podcast, and tell your friends about us so that more people can find this show! You can also join our conversation by following us on social media at @offthebeatdance on IG, FB, Twitter, and Tik Tok or by visiting us at www.offthebeat.dance. We’d love to hear from you.
Off the Beat is a passion project, and we really need your help to make this podcast a long-term and sustainable venture.
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For a special two-part Off Season Chat, Ameya and Kiran speak with Sai Venkata Gangadhar, a Kuchipudi dancer and teacher from Hyderabad. This week, Gangadhar reflects on his dance journey and begins delving into the impact of his dance training, education, and social media on his art.
Off Season Chats is a new series in which we have intimate conversations with dancers who are forging new paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. Our special guests are accomplished artists whose works span across many genres of South Asian dance including: Kathak, Kandyan, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Odissi, and much more.
About Sai Venkata Gangadhar:
Sai Venkata Gangadhar is a young Kuchipudi dancer from Hyderabad. He has been training at Nishrinkala Dance Academy under Guru Smt. Sandhya Raju for the past 13 years, and he is a postgraduate in Business administration. He also pursued his Masters in Kuchipudi from University of Hyderabad. He is one of the prime students of Smt. Sandhya Raju. Recognizing his dedication, she appointed him as an assistant teacher soon after his Rangapravesham in 2015.
He has participated several times with the Academy’s group ensemble and performed in many prestigious dance festivals including: Sangeet Natak Academy’s Nrityaprathibha festival, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha’s Pongal festivals, Gandharva, and many others. Also trained in gymnastics, he has taken this art as a profession and continuously works to understand and enjoy the nuances of his chosen dance style.
Instagram: @sai_venkata_gangadhar
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgEQ2F_PLAGW8l6ODIruOUQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gagadhar.venkat
Today’s episode of Off Season Chats would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of our amazing listeners and the following people:
We Edit Podcasts for audio engineering Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logo Kasi Aysola for transcription of the Telugu portions Wesley Beeks & Bertel King, Jr.Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and other streaming services, subscribe to the podcast, and tell your friends about us so that more people can find this show! You can also join our conversation by following us on social media at @offthebeatdance on IG, FB, Twitter, and Tik Tok or by visiting us at www.offthebeat.dance. We’d love to hear from you.
Off the Beat is a passion project, and we really need your help to make this podcast a long-term and sustainable venture. Please consider supporting us on Patreon at patreon.com/offthebeatdance so that we can continue to bring you more content. And together, we can create a new dance future...one beat at a time!
Off Season Chats is an Off The Beat production
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In the second episode of Off Season Chats, Ameya and Kiran speak with Kaustavi Sarkar, an Odissi dancer, researcher, and educator based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She shares her artistic and academic journey, bridging research and practice, decolonizing dance and academia, and building a South Asian dance consortium.
Off Season Chats is a new series in which we have intimate conversations with dancers who are forging new paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. Our special guests are accomplished artists whose works span across many genres of South Asian dance including: Kathak, Kandyan, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Odissi, and much more.
About Kaustavi Sarkar:
Dr. Kaustavi Sarkar is an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Her research interests include Practice-as-Research, religious studies, digital humanities, choreographic research, and queer theory. She is a 2020 National Endowment for the Arts recipient and Artistic Director of Kaustavi Movement Center. Her choreography and scholarship have been featured in American College Dance Association Conference, Dance Studies Association, World Dance Alliance, and Odissi International.
These aspects of her practice also appear in her forthcoming book project, Shaping S-Curves (University of North Carolina Press). She will also be releasing a monograph, Dance, Technology, Social Justice, which presents a critical cultural take on dance technique as a technology of social justice. She recently presented a new piece, The Impossible Romance, with choreographer Maya Kulkarni.
Instagram: @kaustavisarkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaustavi.sarkar
Dive Deeper:
Brenda Dixon Gottschild - Digging the Africanist Presence in American PerformanceAshanti Brantley - "Have Arts, will travel"Constance Valis Hill - "From Bharata Natyam to Bop: Jack Cole's 'Modern' Jazz Dance"Today’s episode of Off Season Chats would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of our amazing listeners and the following people:
We Edit Podcasts for audio engineering Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logo Wesley Beeks & Bertel King, Jr.Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and other streaming services, subscribe to the podcast, and tell your friends about us so that more people can find this show! You can also join our conversation by following us on social media at @offthebeatdance on IG, FB, Twitter, and Tik Tok or by visiting us at www.offthebeat.dance. We’d love to hear from you.
Off the Beat is a passion project, and we really need your help to make this podcast a long-term and sustainable venture. Please consider supporting us on Patreon at patreon.com/offthebeatdance so that we can continue to bring you more content. And together, we can create a new dance future...one beat at a time!
Off Season Chats is an Off The Beat production
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In the first episode of Off Season Chats, Ameya and Kiran speak with Keerthana Ravi, a Bharatanatyam dancer, curator, and entrepreneur based in Mumbai, India. She shares her incredible journey in dance, takes us behind-the-scenes of developing India's first crowd-funded classical dance festival, and discusses the thrills and challenges of dancing during the pandemic.
Off Season Chats is a new series in which we have intimate conversations with dancers who are forging new paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. Our special guests are accomplished artists whose works span across many genres of South Asian dance including: Kathak, Kandyan, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Odissi, and much more.
About Keerthana Ravi:
Keerthana began her training in Bharatanatyam with Smt. Padmini Ramachandran in Bangalore, and she is currently undergoing advanced training with Smt. Rama Vaidyanathan. She has also studied Carnatic music, Kalaripayattu, and Kathak. An award-winning dancer, she is an A-Grade Artiste of Doordarshan, toured several countries as a performer, and represented India as a youth cultural ambassador at the 2005 World Youth Congress in Scotland.
A post-graduate in Communication Management and Fine Arts, she founded RasaBodhi Art Foundation and organized India's first crowdfunded classical dance festival in 2016. She created two new productions - Varsham and Adjayega Hans Akela - during the pandemic through a unique mentorship project with Kathak exponent Prerana Shrimali.
Instagram: @keerthanaravi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keerthana.ravi.33
Today’s episode of Off Season Chats would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of our amazing listeners and the following people:
We Edit Podcasts for audio engineering Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logo Wesley Beeks & Bertel King, Jr.Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and other streaming services, subscribe to the podcast, and tell your friends about us so that more people can find this show! You can also join our conversation by following us on social media at @offthebeatdance on IG, FB, Twitter, and Tik Tok or by visiting us at www.offthebeat.dance. We’d love to hear from you.
Off the Beat is a passion project, and we really need your help to make this podcast a long-term and sustainable venture. Please consider supporting us on Patreon at patreon.com/offthebeatdance so that we can continue to bring you more content. And together, we can create a new dance future...one beat at a time!
Off Season Chats is an Off The Beat production
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We’re back! Off The Beat finally returns after eight long months with a brand-new series called Off Season Chats. While planning for Season 2, we decided to have some intimate conversations with five dancers who are forging new and exciting paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. As always, we strive to create content for you that is simple, accessible, conversational, actionable, and joyful. And we remain firmly committed to building a dance future...one beat a time! Episode 1 of Off Season Chats is out on June 23 with episodes releasing weekly across all major platforms and on our website (http://offthebeat.dance).
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In the season finale, Ameya and Kiran ponder over what embodied practice looks like for Indian dancers with special guest Dr. Yashoda Thakore. Dr. Thakore discusses how to define embodied practice, bridge academia and performance, and find meaningful ways to connect dance to the world around us. Ameya and Kiran reflect on what they have from Dr. Thakore’s brilliant conversation and throughout all six episodes to bring Season 1 to a close.
Call to Action: Dance in service to your life, your community, and the world around you.
Dive deeper:
Jaya Senapati: Nrtta Ratnavali (2013) - translated by Drs. Pappu Venugopala Rao & Yashoda Thakore Yashoda Thakore: Kaivalya: Joy in Yoga and Dance (2014) Yashoda Thakore: Pārśvadeva - The Dancer’s Friend -Swarbharti 2020 (digest/souvenir) Yashoda Thakore: Her Story of Dance Podcast (2021)About Dr. Yashoda Thakore:
Award-winning dancer, educator, researcher, and writer, Dr. Yashoda Thakore deftly balances artistry with scholarship as a Kuchipudi and Devadasi Nrityam artiste. She initially trained in Kuchipudi for 14 years under Padmasri Shoba Naidu and Padmabhushan Vempati Chinna Satyam. Her quest to explore deeper potentialities in dance led her to train with Padmabhushan Swapnasundari for some time. Quite recently, she discovered that she is part of the Kalavantulu community of hereditary women dancers who performed in the temples, courts, and salons in and around the Godaveri Delta in Andhra Pradesh. She then began learning directly from the families themselves in this region.
Dr. Thakore has successfully bridged her love for dance practice with academic research by first pursuing a Masters in Dance and then a PhD in Yoga and Dance. In 2013, Dr. Thakore, in association with Dr. Pappu Venugopala Rao, published a critically-acclaimed English translation of the 13th-century text, Nritta Ratnavalli. Other publications include Kaivalya - Joy in Yoga & Dance. In 2017, she was conferred the Ugadi Puraskar by the Government of Andhra Pradesh for her incredible devotion and contribution to art.
She has travelled widely as both a performer and lecturer at many prestigious venues including: The Music Academy in Chennai, Khajuraho and Konark Festivals, The Nehru Center in London, Volos International Festival in Greece, the Center for South Asian Studies in Paris, and many others.
Instagram: @yashodathakore
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yashoda.thakore
Website: http://yashodathakore.com
Today’s episode would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of our amazing listeners as well as:
Dr. Yashoda Thakore We Edit Podcasts for audio engineering Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logo -
Ameya and Kiran continue their exploration of joy through sacred and secular rituals surrounding dance while chatting about chaat (their favorite Indian snack), scrubbing floors, and stolen bells. What exactly is ritual and why is it sacred? Are there right and wrong rituals for Indian classical dancers? Ameya and Kiran examine these critical questions using a compelling definition of ritual from The Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile.
Call to Action: Have your rituals changed in response to the world around you?
Dive deeper:
Casper ter Kuile – The Power of Ritual (on Ameya's current reading list)Hobson, Schroeder, et al. (2017) - The Psychology of Rituals: An Integrative Review and Process-based Framework (Journal Review Article)Gilles Deleuze - Difference & Repetition (a foundational text in Performance Studies and a philosophical inquiry into habit with clear applications to ritual)Today’s episode would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of our amazing listeners and the following people:
We Edit Podcasts for audio engineering Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logo Sarada Jammi for Ameya’s studio space A special thanks to Wesley Beeks & Bertel King, Jr.Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the podcast, and tell your friends about us so that more people can find this show! You can also support us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/offthebeatdance. Your donations, reviews, and support will go a long way to help us to continue the show. You can also join our conversation by following us at @offthebeatdance on IG, FB, and Twitter or visiting us at www.offthebeat.dance. We’d love to hear from you.
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Ameya and Kiran reflect on their relationship with joy on and off stage, especially after nearly two tumultuous years of pandemic. They revisit Pārśvadeva’s Sangīta Samaya Sāra for his unique perspective on the dancer’s joy and uncover what Tamil literature from the ancient Sangam period also has to say about it.
Call to action: Think about what gives you joy and how to bring it into your dance.
Dive deeper:
Mandakranta Bose – Movement and Mimesis: Idea of Dance in the Sanskritic Tradition S. Raghuraman - History of Tamil’s Dance (Translated into English by Lakshmi Ramaswamy) Yashoda Thakore - “Parsvadeva- The Dancer’s Friend” Swarbharti 2020 (digest/Souvenir) “Brené with Gabby Rivera on Superheroes, Storytelling and Joy as Resistance” on the podcast Unlocking Us Ananda Coomaraswamy - Yakṣas Mahāvamsa (Translated into English by Ananda W.P. Guruge) Wash Edward Hale - Asura in Early Vedic Religion S. Yogiar - Koothanool (In Tamil & English)Today’s episode would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of our amazing listeners and the following people:
We Edit Podcasts for audio engineering Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logo Catwalk Institute for Kiran’s studio space Sarada Jammi for Ameya’s studio space Dr. Lakshmi Ramaswamy for her insight on Koothanool Dr. Yashoda Thakore for sharing her research on Pārśvadeva A special thanks to Wesley Beeks & Bertel King, Jr.Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the podcast, and tell your friends about us so that more people can find this show! You can also support us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/offthebeatdance. You can join our conversation by following us at @offthebeatdance on IG, FB, and Twitter or visiting us at www.offthebeat.dance. We’d love to hear from you.
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In Part 2 of a special two-episode arc on Rasa, Ameya and Kiran explore the application of Rasa theory to devotional pieces, delve into Bhakti as a rasa, and unearth power structures that might be lurking within these texts. They bring it full circle by teasing apart the implications of the history of Rasa theory on the practice of Indian classical dance today.
Call to action: Dance a piece for someone without telling them what to expect. Tell us how they respond!
Dive deeper:
● Mandakranta Bose – Movement and Mimesis: Idea of Dance in the Sanskritic Tradition
● Kapila Vatsyayan – Indian Classical Dances
● B. M. Chaturvedi and Sriramachandrudu Pullela – Some unexplored aspects of rasa theory
● Bharata’s Natya Shastra – the chapter on rasa (Ameya’s go-to edition is the 4-volume set by Pushpendra Kumar)
● Jaya Senapati’s Nṛtta Ratnāvali (Translated by Yashoda Thakore and Pappu Venugopala Rao)
● S. Raghuraman - History of Tamil’s Dance (Translated into English by Lakshmi Ramaswamy)
● V. Murugan - Tolkāppiyam in English
● Gabby Rivera and Brené Brown - “Brené with Gabby Rivera on Superheroes, Storytelling and Joy as Resistance” in the Unlocking Us podcast
Today’s episode would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of many, including
● We Edit Podcasts for audio engineering
● Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logo
● Catwalk Institute for Kiran’s studio space
● Sarada Jammi for Ameya’s studio space
● Drs. V. Arasu, Lakshmi Ramaswamy, S. Raghuraman, and V. Murugan for their critical insights into Tolkāppiyam and the contributions of Tamil Literature to Indian dance & aesthetics
● Drs. Yashoda Thakore and Anupama Kylash for their on the nuances of rasa theory and its evolution through Sanskrit literature, as well as their guidance for Ameya’s research into the relationship between rhythm and emotion at the University of SiliconAndhra.
● A special thanks to Wesley Beeks & Bertel King, Jr.
Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and tell your friends about us! You can follow us at @offthebeatdance on IG, FB, and Twitter or visit us at offthebeat.dance. We’d love to hear from you.
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Ameya and Kiran muse over rasam recipes while diving deep into the foundations of Rasa theory in the Natya Sastra in Part 1 of this special two-episode arc. They discuss how it is understood today and present a compelling alternative theory from ancient Tamil Literature.
Call to action: What changes would you make to the Navarasa list?
Dive deeper:
● Mandakranta Bose – Movement and Mimesis: Idea of Dance in the Sanskritic Tradition
● B. M. Chaturvedi and Sriramachandrudu Pullela – Some unexplored aspects of rasa theory
● Bharata’s Natya Shastra – Chapter 6, which is on rasa (Ameya’s go-to edition is the 4-volume set by Pushpendra Kumar)
● S. Raghuraman - History of Tamil’s Dance (Translated into English by Lakshmi Ramaswamy)
● V. Murugan - Tolkāppiyam in English
Today’s episode would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of many, including
● We Edit Podcasts for audio engineering
● Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of our logo
● Catwalk Institute for Kiran’s studio space
● Sarada Jammi for Ameya’s studio space
● Drs. V. Arasu, Lakshmi Ramaswamy, S. Raghuraman, and V. Murugan for their critical insights into Tolkāppiyam and the contributions of Tamil Literature to Indian dance & aesthetics
● Drs. Yashoda Thakore and Anupama Kylash for their incisive and comprehensive review of the nuances of rasa theory and its evolution through Sanskrit literature
● A special thanks to Wesley Beeks & Bertel King, Jr.
Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and tell your friends about us! You can follow us at @offthebeatdance on IG, FB, and Twitter or visit us at offthebeat.dance. We’d love to hear from you.
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In the inaugural episode, Ameya and Kiran set the intention for this podcast. They then explore the slokam “Yato Hastas Tato Drishti” through their personal relationships with this Sanskrit verse, the connection between eyes and body control, and their exploration of ancient texts as they relate to the practice of dance. They also discuss rasa, bhava, abhinaya, and how to get invited to high school parties.
Call to action: Think back to some of the early lessons of your dance classes. What did you learn then that has stayed with you until now?
Dive deeper - here are some of the texts we mentioned in today's episode. You can visit the episode page on website offthebeat.dance for more bonus content as well.
Phillip B. Zarrilli - “Where the hand [is]…” Asian Theatre Journal, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Autumn, 1987)Yashoda Thakore - “Parsvadeva- The Dancer’s Friend” Swarbharti 2020 (digest/Souvenir)Nandikesvara’s Abhinaya Darpana - we use the edition by P. S. R. Apparao.Today’s episode would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of many, including
Andy Rhode of Audionauts for audio engineering Sangeetha Kowsik for graphic design of the logoSarada Jammi and Sri Sai Narayana Organization for recording equipment and spaceDr. Yashoda Thakore for sharing her research on ParsvadevaDr. Vi Rajagopalan for the high school graduation photo A special thanks to Wesley Beeks and Bertel King, Jr. Music from the album Valaji by Gokul Salvadi (“Valaji” and “Abhogi Kaanada - the expedition”)Liked what you heard? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and tell your friends about us! You can follow us at @offthebeatdance on IG, FB, and Twitter or visit us at offthebeat.dance. We’d love to hear from you.
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Welcome to an Off the Beat dance podcast with Ameya and Kiran!
There are a couple of phrases that are endemic to every Indian classical dancer: “Dance is more than just moving hands and legs” and “Dance is a way of life.” And you know, at times that might start sounding a bit trite.
We want to dive deeper. We want to look at the common aspects of Indian classical dance forms with fresh eyes, bringing our lived experiences, academic nerd joy, and - most importantly - the questions that drive us.
Basically, we’re taking an off the beat approach to discussing Indian dance.
Our principles:
1. No academic jargon. K.I.S.S.
2. Positivity and moving forward
3. Be authentic. Unpolished. 🙂
It’s a bit quirky. It’s intimate. It comes with citations of all our favorite sources. And, most importantly, it looks for actionable ways we can engage with our dance and make a difference.
We’re planning to launch An Off the Beat Dance Podcast with Kiran and Ameya on Thursday, September 9th.
