The Living Library: An Evening of Indian Classical Music & Dance

The Living Library: An Evening of Indian Classical Music & Dance

On April 15th, I was invited to present at the New York Public Library as part of the 2026 World Literature and Arts Festival. The title of the evening was "The Living Library: An Evening of Indian Classical Music & Dance." While it was great to be invited, there were several technical issues that arose during my performance (despite a thorough tech rehearsal). While it was disappointing to work with a mediocre technical team, several things were clear:

• My ability to transition from performance to instruction mode - in the video below and linked here, you will see that from 24.36 to 33.53 min, as the tech team is trying to troubleshoot, I successfully engaged the audience.
  • I talked to participants about the word "Digambar" and the expansiveness of its meanings - from "one who wears the sky or the four directions" to "formless. I asked folks why being formless.  would be significant. They said it could make one invisible; it may show he is not tied to any physicality.  
  • I showed a few gestures, and individuals followed along. 
  • I talked about the symbolic meaning of three eyes and what it may symbolize. Participants mentioned it could be a way to look into the future or the past, or even one's spirit. 
  • Someone asked the essential question of "Why does Shiva dance?" and others talked about tandava and its significance. 
• The testimonials reveal the love and affection the audience has for me and for the art form. I was truly humbled to see familiar faces (many individuals were turned away because of a full house) and new audiences that were totally on my side, rooting for me and my success. 
• It is also clear that people, even without a lot of exposure to Indian dance, can perceive some very important things. For example, the observation that feet are an important part of Bharatanatyam, and the livestream did not capture them. 

Images below (PC: Aravind Mallipudi, Marina Thomas, Maria Elgert, Rosemary Lightbourne, Jayne Parris)

Testimonials:

• "Hey, I watched the program (online) last night! It was lovely. Amazing how you have so much to share and not a stutter. They need to work on the audio a bit. Lucky for them, it happened on your watch. I feel you were the only one who could keep the people entertained! Very enlightening!❤️❤️❤️"
• "I have seen so many shows over the years, but this is the first time someone has taken the time to explain to us what the gestures mean. All this time, I was admiring them bc they are beautiful, but I now know they have meaning. All dancers should do this before they perform."
• I stayed with the entire program, everyone was great, even though they followed their toughest act, yes?
• "I think you are a natural teacher, so you started, and I thought this is perfect. I will learn something, and then that was all the teaching we had."
• "Thank you for the performance. I was so absorbed I forgot to take photographs. We both think you made a gracious and agile recovery when the music got messed up. Brava!" 
• ​"You were no less than aaah-maizing!!!! Especially during the technical difficulties😄- I'm bummed b/c the sound went out for Internet land during your pivot when you were talking about the different hastas, etc. Thank you so much - you are a consummate professional - you were so calm, cool, and collected during technical difficulties (plural😀). Dance on!!!"
• "You are Sloka, you have the sound engraved in your  DNA 🙏" 

• "Also, your initial explanation was wonderful. By the way, you even mentioned Vasistha. My friend and I were just reading some of his writings this week." 
• "I bow to you. And bow to Michael, who supports you.  And Jessie 🙏"
• ​  The more you dance, the more beautiful you become."
• "I could see the change in your face as the music began, and it was clear that your gurus and their gurus had done the same before you. That this is a form that is in you." 
• I enjoyed your performance and the way you handled the music glitch, entertaining the audience, who got educated on Shiva. The storytelling through dance with music was quite interesting and entertaining." 
• "Definitely to watch you, Sloka, was exquisitely thrilling! Grateful for what you share! Beautifully orchestrated, wonderful world with your kind, beautiful mind, magical movement, and loved how music flows out of you!"
• "Lovely to see you as well! Such a joy to see your beloved dancing in person. So wonderful!"
• "You were awesome. I loved how you went into professor mode after the second time the music failed. You kept your cool and gave the audience a masterclass on dance. Then you danced a truly beautiful and physical piece with such grace. You really shone!"
  

PC: Chae Kihn