Spring 2026 at the Kips Bay branch

Spring 2026 at the Kips Bay NYPL Branch

In Spring 2026, I presented sessions on Bharatanatyam and its link with poetry in a series called "Shabd" at the Kips Bay Library. 
Some images from our session on April 22nd are below. While there have been few people attending, the discussions and impact are massive! 

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Testimonials 

• "I wanted to try something new and different, and my soul came alive. There are not many places in the city where you can talk abt the clouds and what they’re saying."
• "A most enjoyable and sublime afternoon, thanks!" 
• "Thank you for the amazing class. I'm looking forward to the next session!"
• “If this were at my library branch, there would be a waiting line, and people would be waiting outside the door.”
• "You create such a welcoming atmosphere, and I loved learning the basics of Bharatanatyam gestures as a first-time beginner!"  
• "I don’t know if it’s a result of these sessions, but I feel more aware of my surroundings. I have started noticing the clouds out of my window.”
• In a survey administered mid-way, participants mentioned the following as "memorable moments": 
  • Enacting poems through dance. 
  • "I feel more connected to the community, and I learn about another culture."
  • "I like learning about Indian poets, poems, dance, movement, and expressions."
  • "I find myself more aware of my surroundings ever since I started these sessions." 
• "Any other place where I talk about things, they will send me to a psychiatric ward. This was like a dream, a miracle. To have this in my neighborhood.” (We were discussing the poem "For Longing" by John O'Donahue. 
• “I am learning so many new things.”
• “If I look at them, they are just words on a page. But when we discuss them and the questions you ask, they become philosophical.”
• "I now know you need a teacher or guide to learn this dance."
• ​“Let us know if other things are going on in the city so that we can build on what we already learned.”
• “I’m sorry you had a small class, but I’m glad I got an intimate time. It’s like the Rockettes coming to the public library, and you get to see them up close.” 
• “Thank you so much. I enjoyed your classes thoroughly. Wishing you all the best.”

Survey at the end of six sessions 

Most memorable moment from this class: 

• Bringing beauty to life 
• Interpretation of poems
• Enjoyed the dance, movement, and poems
• The poetry depth and meaning - beautiful!

Tell us what impact this program made on your life and community: 

• ​Broadened my life experiences
• Learning about a new culture 
• I expected more vigorous dancing, I was surprised by the slow dance movement

• The program was engaging (4 of 4 "strongly agreed") 
• The program made me feel more connected to others in the community  (4 of 4 "strongly agreed") 
• ​The program inspired me to build a creative practice and express myself creatively  (4 of 4 "strongly agreed") 

When asked, "What did you enjoy about this program?", the responses were:

• Program instructor (4 of 4) 
• Topics covered (4 of 4) 
• Hands-on activities (3 of 4) 
• Feedback on my work (2 of 4)
• Connecting with community as a library program (2 of 4)