Over the last several weeks, I've had the pleasure of working with learners at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library. Over seven weeks, we explored movement, rhythm, mythology, and music! 
A participant Aravind Mallipudi, who curates Hrudayam Art Gallery remarked "I feel more alive and reconnected to my roots with every ritual and expression of our culture. So Thank You for your class and allowing me to share my own passion and knowledge with our participants." 

PC: Aravind Mallipudi, curator of Hrudayam Art Gallery ​

We had the chance to show and share our beloved plants as well, and one participant had this to say:
"They are all of love and beauty and part of the cosmos. I have so enjoyed the universal connection that I have experienced in your teaching. It transcends and combines all (positive) thoughts and beliefs. Producing relaxation and encouragement. The class is ending, but the relationship with what you introduced hasn’t."

PC: Peter of NYPL ​

After being at the Baychester New York Public Library in Spring of 2024, I am so happy to partner with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (formerly known as the mid-Manhattan library) branch.
Below are a few images of the beautiful space and material from one of the sessions: 

Bharatanatyam as I am learning from my gurus requires immersion into many modalities of learning, understanding, and experiencing the world. Among other things, it is a study of pattern recognition and generation. The short video shows students at the YM & YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood working on a pattern of movements with their feet and hands. One remarkable feature of the dance form is also the way in which these patterns can be layered on top of another to make complex pieces that can be learned in smaller modules. 

Bharatanatyam is also a study of words and their meaning. The slokam "Angikam Bhuvanam" mentions the word "aaharyam" meaning "adornment". In addition to its literal meaning of clothes and jewelry, it may also include a smile, sweet words, song, and one's character. A student offered the word "raiment" to describe this expanded sense of adornment. 

I am fortunate to learn from my gurus and at the same time, share this dance with students, placing me in the rich lineage of the tradition. 

I have written about Bharatanatyam being an excellent way to connect with the nature around us. While many forms of dance can do that, the lyricism of Bharatanatyam and the verses and poetry used make it an especially tangible way to do so. 
In the first verse, we describe the river made of droplets of water, bending with mischievous waves, the power of the river to rejuvenate and transform, and the eternal, ongoing nature of Narmada, but also all rivers. 
In verse two, we describe the life forms that are sustained by the river - small and big fish, crocodiles, turtles, egrets, and cranes. We describe the river Narmada as a place for pilgrimage. 
The song Narmada Ashtakam was composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, and set to music by my teacher Smt. Nivedita ShivRaj of RagaChitra Fine Arts in the ragam Alarmagal. 
Learners are at the YM&YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood, ​
Video credit: Jeanette Shields 

One of my many fascinations is rivers - the lifeforms they sustain and nurture, the civilizations built around it, and their sheer power for change superimposed on their timelessness and continuity. Working on pieces like the Narmada ashtakam with participants at the YM&YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood reinforces the ways in which Bharatanatyam connects us to nature.
In this piece, we describe the river Narmada's mischievous waves, the capacity of all rivers for rejuvenation, and transformation. We talked about people going on pilgrimages, and leaners shared things like atonement, asking for forgiveness, or fulfilling a personal desire as reasons to go on a pilgrimage. One mentioned the "eternal and ongoing" nature of rivers, which was so beautiful, and another drew analogies to Yom Kippur - a festival that had just passed. 

The song Narmada Ashtakam was composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, and set to music by my teacher Smt. Nivedita ShivRaj of RagaChitra Fine Arts in the ragam Alarmagal. 
Learners are at the YM&YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood, 
​Video credit: Jeanette Shields ​

The image shows how I use the written word to help learners grasp some nuances. You will see:

• The name of the river Narmada
• Saralivarsai (foundational notes in Carnatic music) written out 
• A map of India with the river Narmada 

The paper on how Bharatanatyam can be a way for older adults (and for anyone really) to make deep and meaningful connections mentions connections with the natural environment. At the YM&YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood, we started a song on the river Narmada. This song brings together my love for rivers and dance, and helps us learn and share a bit about Indian geography. It is also a great way to think about the rivers we all know and love - the Hudson River, East River, Bronx River etc - and the life that these rivers subsist. 
The song Narmada Ashtakam was composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, and set to music by my teacher Smt. Nivedita ShivRaj of RagaChitra Fine Arts in the ragam Alarmagal. 
​Video credit: C.S. Rani 
The verses below talk about the drops of water that make up Narmada and how Narmada (and all rivers) have the capacity to renew and rejuvenate. 

I was so excited to represent Dance for PD in July 2024 at the The Garden at Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center's Summer for the City. It was amazing sharing my love for Bharatanatyam and making it inclusive for all.
Image and video credit for the pictures and videos below: Dance for PD® 

Sometimes, the work on creative aging takes interesting forms. A few months ago, through India Home, a dear person reached out to me to learn the Namaskara that she could share in front of her friends and family for her 90th birthday celebration. 
Over the months, we started working together, and she requested me to perform the Nirvana Shatakam, as it is a song close to her heart. The beautiful song is from this source. 

In July 2024, I offered a session at Sirovich Center for Balanced Living; some images below.
Picture credit: Schekira Wilson 

I am so excited to share my work on Bharatanatyam and its impacts to ease loneliness in older adults is published in the journal Critical Public Health. The link is here.

This paper consists of observational data where I propose a novel framework for describing social isolation and loneliness in older adults that includes relationships to their changing bodies and experiences, to history and literature, and to nature and current events. I then summarize that the study of Bharatanatyam enables connections of various kinds, specifically, connection with oneself in oneself, connection to tradition and history and to others, the nature and current events.

A few reactions to this paper:

• "Wow…that was really informative. I think is going to be even more of a problem with the young generations, especially as they age. They have not formed personal relationship skills because of dependence on social media." 
• "You are so amazing for doing what you do, coming up with an idea where there is hardly any research and turning it into something revolutionary. It really does inspire hope that things can be different."