Yashoda wears a red sari with gold jewelry. One arm is extended in front of her with her thumb lifted. The other arm is near her chest bent at the embow with two fingers extended.

Reclaiming An Invisible Woman’s Dance

Dr. Yashoda Thakore, a Kuchipudi dancer and scholar in India, researches the Kalavantulu, the women temple dancers from Telugu-speaking areas. She describes their historical significance and why she is trying to erase the stigma around them through education.

December 12, 2022  |  Read Article

One Man’s Footprint on Contemporary Indian Dance

An Interview with Astad Deboo BY EMMALY WIEDERHOLT; PHOTOS BY RITAM BANERJEE Astad Deboo is a contemporary Indian dancer and choreographer in Mumbai, India. Now in his 70s, he has spent his career contributing to and shaping the field of contemporary Indian dance. Here, he describes his upcoming piece, Inter-Connect, […]

November 26, 2018  |  Read Article

A Living Tradition: Jayanthi Raman

BY EMMALY WIEDERHOLT; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GREGORY BARTNING Not quite 50, our youngest dancer explained she knew few others, even in India, dancing this particular form of Indian classical dance at her age. As the sun rose above the trees behind her, the colorful whirl of Jayanthi’s dance grew like a […]

September 20, 2017  |  Read Article