Top image: Naatadavu #3 adapted to be done just with hands
Creating the foundation to use Bharatanatyam for creative aging
To make sure people of all backgrounds are included in my classes, I use a variety of techniques; one is to adapt steps that are usually done in the "half-sitting" (Aramandi) position to be done seated on a chair, standing up, or even with just hands.
In the image on the left, you can see an adavu (a sequence of movements) that I have adapted to be done just with one's hands.
To make sure people of all backgrounds are included in my classes, I use a variety of techniques; one is to adapt steps that are usually done in the "half-sitting" (Aramandi) position to be done seated on a chair, standing up, or even with just hands.
In the image on the left, you can see an adavu (a sequence of movements) that I have adapted to be done just with one's hands.
Awarded the Aseemkala Choreography Fellowship 2022-2023
August 2022 - June 2023: The Aseemkala Initiative aims to provide a platform for ideas, dialogue, and creativity using traditional arts and dance to address issues of health inequity in healthcare.
I will explore age and aging through Bharatanatyam as part of this fellowship. The themes I want to explore are: dancing with an aging body, losing one’s memory, losing one’s friends, the subtle but sure ways senior citizens are treated with almost-contempt, the gradual exclusion from society, and the infantilization of senior citizens. The message is positive as well, with an enhanced wisdom and experience that age brings.
August 2022 - June 2023: The Aseemkala Initiative aims to provide a platform for ideas, dialogue, and creativity using traditional arts and dance to address issues of health inequity in healthcare.
I will explore age and aging through Bharatanatyam as part of this fellowship. The themes I want to explore are: dancing with an aging body, losing one’s memory, losing one’s friends, the subtle but sure ways senior citizens are treated with almost-contempt, the gradual exclusion from society, and the infantilization of senior citizens. The message is positive as well, with an enhanced wisdom and experience that age brings.
Sirovich center for balanced living
June 2022: Educational Alliance’s Sirovich Center for Balanced Living makes aging in New York City easier—and fun! I will lead a workshop on Bharatanatyam for older adults.
June 2022: Educational Alliance’s Sirovich Center for Balanced Living makes aging in New York City easier—and fun! I will lead a workshop on Bharatanatyam for older adults.
DOROT
June 2022: DOROT is a nonprofit organization addressing the challenges of an aging population. I will be facilitating a movement-based workshop for older adults with warm-up, movement, mudras, emotions and storytelling.
June 2022: DOROT is a nonprofit organization addressing the challenges of an aging population. I will be facilitating a movement-based workshop for older adults with warm-up, movement, mudras, emotions and storytelling.
Dance for PD Community Festival
April 2022: To celebrate 20 years of innovative community programming, Dance for PD® hosted Dance for PD Community Festival: Around the World, Around the Clock. My proposal was selected as one of the entries for the festival.
April 2022: To celebrate 20 years of innovative community programming, Dance for PD® hosted Dance for PD Community Festival: Around the World, Around the Clock. My proposal was selected as one of the entries for the festival.
Teaching artist with Su-Casa
February to July 2022: Awarded a fellowship as a teaching artist with Su-Casa, a community arts engagement program that places artists and organizations at senior centers. This fellowship is awarded by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC). A list of the artists and the senior centers we are matched with can be found here. I was matched with the senior center at Union Settlement in NYC and my project is entitled "Navarasa: Time and Timelessness of Emotions in Dance".
February to July 2022: Awarded a fellowship as a teaching artist with Su-Casa, a community arts engagement program that places artists and organizations at senior centers. This fellowship is awarded by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC). A list of the artists and the senior centers we are matched with can be found here. I was matched with the senior center at Union Settlement in NYC and my project is entitled "Navarasa: Time and Timelessness of Emotions in Dance".
Stories in the moment
Summer 2022: As a qualitative researcher for the Stories in the Moment Pilot Project, I will develop a a mixed-method action research study of Stories in the Moment, a dance, movement and storytelling program for people living with dementia. I will help deliver focus groups with three groups of virtual Stories in the Moment participants (people living with dementia and their loved ones) and support the transcription, coding and evaluation of the data produced.
Summer 2022: As a qualitative researcher for the Stories in the Moment Pilot Project, I will develop a a mixed-method action research study of Stories in the Moment, a dance, movement and storytelling program for people living with dementia. I will help deliver focus groups with three groups of virtual Stories in the Moment participants (people living with dementia and their loved ones) and support the transcription, coding and evaluation of the data produced.
Teaching artist at The Creative Center
The Creative Center is an organization dedicated to bringing the creative arts to people with cancer, chronic illnesses, and through all stages of life. In April 2022, I conducted 4 week-long workshop with the participants on "Navarasas". Bharatanatyam has in it codified an array of emotions, called “rasas”. The nine rasas (Navarasa) include love, laughter, sorrow, anger, courage, fear, disgust, wonder, and peace. While Bharatanatyam is a form rooted in tradition, the emotions laid out are relevant even today, and perhaps more so. In this project, I will work with participants and their caregivers to explore the emotions they feel throughout the course of their days the vocabulary of the Navarasas and Bharatanatyam.
The Creative Center is an organization dedicated to bringing the creative arts to people with cancer, chronic illnesses, and through all stages of life. In April 2022, I conducted 4 week-long workshop with the participants on "Navarasas". Bharatanatyam has in it codified an array of emotions, called “rasas”. The nine rasas (Navarasa) include love, laughter, sorrow, anger, courage, fear, disgust, wonder, and peace. While Bharatanatyam is a form rooted in tradition, the emotions laid out are relevant even today, and perhaps more so. In this project, I will work with participants and their caregivers to explore the emotions they feel throughout the course of their days the vocabulary of the Navarasas and Bharatanatyam.