SLOKA IYENGAR
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Bharatanatyam for All

Visual art and Bharatanatyam for creative aging

11/19/2023

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Visual art and Bharatanatyam for creative aging 

PictureMy interpretation of the anklets, the music they make, and the stumbling toddle of the child.
Bharatanatyam in its performative form consists of music, rhythm, facial expressions, and hand gestures. However, as students and practitioners of Bharatanatyam, we are also expected to have a general appreciation of colors, props, lights, geometry, literature, philosophy, design, fabric, and history. In my work using Bharatanatyam for creative aging, I have the opportunity to include many of these artistic modalities to enable creative expression. Two examples are: the use of poetry for sessions with Arts for the Aging, and the use of visual art for sessions with The Creative Center. 

As a teaching artist for Arts for the Aging, certified poetry therapist Lauren Mazow Boyle and I presented a series of workshops entitled "The Body Poetic:  Exploration through Indian Dance and Poetry". We explore how  Bharatanatyam entwines with the poetic arts. 

The visual arts are another way to bring alive the expressive power of Bharatanatyam. In a series called "Rasas in the Now" with The Creative Center, participants explore rasas (emotions) through movement and color. Participants are encouraged to think about specific events related to an emotion (e.g. "what evokes the feeling of wonder in you?") and Programs & Partnerships Coordinator Liz Rubel supplements dance with an exploration of color specific to each rasa. 

For adbhuta (the feeling of wonder), we explored Sri. Tulsidas's famous poem Thumaki Chalat, which describes the sounds a child's anklets make as he is learning to walk. With Liz's guidance, we transformed movement into colors and patterns with pastels. The image is my interpretation of the anklets, the music they make, and the stumbling toddle of the child! 

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The Body Poetic at Arts for the Aging (4)

11/17/2023

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The Body Poetic at Arts for the Aging (4)

On November 17, 2023, as a teaching artist for Arts for the Aging,  certified poetry therapist Lauren Mazow Boyle and I presented a series of workshops entitled "The Body Poetic:  Exploration through Indian Dance and Poetry". We explored Sri. Tulsidas's famous poem Thumaki Chalat, describing the sounds a child's anklets make as he is learning to walk. Below is a small excerpt of the poetry that participants made: 

"Tinkling, tinkling
Shimmer and shake
To the left, to the right
Falling down
Picking up
An embrace
To be around children
Glorious, glorious."
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November 10th, 2023

11/10/2023

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The Body Poetic at Arts for the Aging (3)

On November 10, 2023, as a teaching artist for Arts for the Aging,  certified poetry therapist Lauren Mazow Boyle and I presented a series of workshops entitled "The Body Poetic:  Exploration through Indian Dance and Poetry". We explored Arun Kolatkar's The Butterfly; participants created a group poem; below is a small excerpt of the poetry that participants made: 

"Enjoy life
Savoring the sunshine
Seeing the beauty
Carefree
No problems, no worries
All those grains of sand are salty
And sweet
All these grains that make up a life
Strength and lightness
All of you are my butterflies
A welcome and pleasant surprise
Together in this moment
I am glad we crossed paths today."

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    Author

    My name is Sloka.  I am a neuroscientist and dancer; you can find more about me here. 

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Last updated: July 7, 2025
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  • About me
    • Profile
    • Service
    • Invited talks and interviews
    • Continuing education
    • Upcoming Public Events
    • Publications
    • Contact me >
      • Ensuring effective collaborations
  • Science
    • Science consulting
    • Global health >
      • Capacity building in global health >
        • Capacity building through leadership
        • Disaster relief
      • Mental health
      • Aging and palliative care
      • Neurological disorders
    • Clinical science
    • Preclinical science
    • Science advocacy >
      • Advocacy activities
      • ABC newsletters
    • Patient communication and advocacy >
      • Patient communication and advocacy (articles)
    • Science education
    • Awards and professional recognition
  • Dance
    • Dance resume >
      • Pictures and videos
      • Community engagement
      • Arts Administration (Biblioteca Madre)
      • SamyuktaNYC
    • Vichaar >
      • Vichaar: Episode 1 transcript
      • Vichaar: Episode 2 transcript
      • Vichaar: testimonials
      • Saṃbhūya
      • The Artful Mind
      • Exploring Early Brain Development through Science and Dance
      • Guru Vandana
    • Bharatanatyam for creative aging >
      • Bharatanatyam for all
      • Bharatanatyam for all: testimonials
      • Bharatanatyam for all: instructional videos
      • For Seniors, By Seniors >
        • Seniors & Financial Decisions
        • Staying Fit As We Age
        • Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Help
        • Embrace the Empty Nest
        • Empty Nesters Seeking Proximity to Their Children
        • The Bumps of a Midlife Crisis
        • Healthy Living for Seniors
        • Forging a Resilient Future
        • Beyond Medicare and Social Security
        • Seniors Living Independently
        • A Harmonious Multigenerational Household
        • Mental Health Boosts
        • Start Your Home-Based Business After Retirement
        • Reclaiming Mental Wellness