Neena Prasad and Musicians in Mohiniattam

Shila Mehta is a distinguished Kathak artist, scholar, performer, and pedagogue with over four decades of experience in performance, education, and research. Trained in the Lucknow gharana, her mentors include Pt. Vijay Shankar, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Pt. Suresh Talwalkar (Taal-Laya), and Dr. Kanak Rele (Natya Shastra), Founder and Artistic Director of Nupur Zankar Academy of Performing Arts and Research Centre, Mumbai, with an international presence across Europe, the UK, and the USA -performed widely at prestigious festivals in India and abroad, including those organised by Sangeet Natak Akademi and ICCR A noted researcher, she received the Government of India Senior Fellowship for pioneering work on Charani ballad singing and its manifestation in 'Charani Kathak.' An author and PhD scholar at the University of Mumbai, she continues to advocate Indian classical dance as a means of cultural connection and holistic well-being.

Nimitta is not merely a dance production but a powerful social commentary in a contemporary context. The choreography explores the idea that every being plays a destined role in the cosmic design. Drawing inspiration from Shikhandi in the Mahabharata-born a woman and later destined to live as a man, becoming the instrument (nimitta) of Bhishma's defeat-the work reflects on destiny, identity, and purpose.The piece also addresses the pervasive issue of gender bias, challenging societal prejudice against the diverse sexual identities. It asserts that human worth lies in values and character rather than gender, for the soul itself is beyond gender. The choreography adopts the Kathakar storytelling approach, integrating the Charani Parampara of vocal narration, poetry, and rhythm within the movement vocabulary of Kathak.

Sreelakshmy Govardhanan is a renowned Kuchipudi dancer, choreographer, and researcher from Kerala, India. Trained in the traditional sampradaya from Guru Pasumarti Rattaiah Sarma, she blends classical rigor with contemporary thought. Known for her grace, precise footwork, and expressive abhinaya, her performances unite tradition with innovation and philosophical depth. She is the founder and artistic director of Avanthika Space for Dance, a centre for learning, performance, and research. A recipient of honours including the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar and the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Kalashree award, she is a graded Doordarshan and ICCR empanelled artiste and a trained psychologist professionally.

Akam is a contemporary choreographic work unfolding through four poetic trails - Trail of Joy, Trail of Freedom, Trail of Tears, and the Trailess. The work navigates layered human emotions, lived experiences, and cultural memories, reflecting both the fragility and resilience that define our existence.Developed through extensive research across Kerala and engagements with ritual and folk practitioners, the work incorporates their songs, practices, and field recordings within its soundscape. While drawing from classical sensibilities, Akam employs contemporary choreographic language to reflect on human contradictions, power, displacement, and the enduring search for freedom and joy.Bhagavathi Naane explores storytelling through the idiom of Kuchipudi, drawing from traditional folklore centred on invoking the goddess within. The work traces a spiritual journey toward the realization that the divine is not separate from oneself. Through rhythmic compositions, expressive storytelling, and ritualistic intensity, the choreography reflects how regional narratives and devotional practices can resonate universally.

Radhe Jaggi and team in Bharatanatyam and Kalaripayattu

Aparna Sindhoor, Artistic Director of Sindhoor Natya - Navarasa is a Mysore style Bharatanatyam exponent. She creates a unique style of dance-theater and has worked in films including with Oscar winner Anthony Dod Mantle. She has a Ph.D. in Dance (Boston University) and a recipient of NPN, CAC Fellowships. Anil Natyaveda, Co-Director of Sindhoor Natya - Navarasa is a leading Kalari artist. He has choreographed for films and for Franco Dragone's circus. He is a recipient of Natyaratnam, the Shastri Indo-Canadian award and Alliance for California Traditional Arts grant. Sanjib Bhattacharya, distinguished Manipuri dance exponent, President's Award recipient, is trained under eminent gurus and performed internationally. Formerly based in Cleveland, now in California's Bay Area, he is choreographer, educator, and founder of Movements in Motion, integrating classical Manipuri with contemporary practice.

'What is love?' American scholar Bell Hooks says that love is the result of conscious actions, and cultivating love requires work. Master artists Aparna, Anil and Sanjib will collaboratively present Love as Action in 5 interpretations. This is a unique combination of Bhatratanatyam, theatrics, Kalari martial arts, Manipuri dance and spoken word.

1. Love as gravity - an ode to the pull of love and the work it takes to cultivate love - a piece inspired by Kalari.
2. Many Loves - mother and child/love between friends - various ways to build love - a dance with Bharatanatyam, Kalari and Manipuri.
3. Romantic: through the Chaturvidha Nayaka Bheda, the fourfold expressions where the reciprocal devotion of the hero finds its eternal reflection in the divine romance of Radha and Krishna in Manipuri Dance.
4. Abuse is not love - We are never loved in a context where there is abuse. A dance-theater interpretation with live song.
5. Love is liberation - a rhythmic exploration to share the inseparable nature of love and justice.

Disciple of Gurus Smt. Nirupama Rajendra and Sri. T.D. Rajendra, Radha Varadan is a creative artist dedicated to the evolution of Kathak. Trained from a young age in classical ballet, Kathak, modern dance, she has been recognized internationally for her work in translating ballet variations into the traditional Kathak vocabulary, and for her research on injury prevention in Indian Classical Dance. A finalist for the 2025 Pt. Birju Maharaj Yuva Puraskar, she has performed worldwide at prestigious dance festivals and continues to perform globally with the renowned Abhinava Dance Company in Bangalore. She has recently been awarded the Fulbright Nehru Award to continue her scholarship in Kathak.

The Kathak tradition has evolved such that there is typically a clear separation in nritta and abhinaya in the items of the classical repertoire. But what if the bhava of a young nayika was interwoven into the Tarana structure, one that is typically only nritta-based? The result is a beautiful confluence of storytelling and the highlights of the Kathak technique, creating a beautiful visual as elements of Sringara are woven into rhythmic tukdas and footwork. This uniquely crafted Tarana is in Raag Bhageshree set to Jhap Taal, choreographed by Gurus Smt Nirupama Rajendra and Sri TD Rajendra.

Preeti Vasudevan is an award-winning and critically acclaimed choreographer. Preeti's provocative and unconventional storytelling challenges the status quo of dance-theater, bridging ancient traditions with the contemporary world. Her provocative works dialogue at teh nexus of the east-west collaboration bringing contemporary identity into the forefront of global expression. Preeti's works have been supported by prominent organizations like TED; Centre National de la Danse, Paris; Lincoln Center, NY; Guggenheim Works & Process, NY; The Joyce Foundation, NY to name a few. Preeti is the 2018 Arts Ambassador of the US Department of State with cultural diplomacy programs and serves on the New York Lincoln Center's Artistic Committee advocating representation and diversity in the arts. Preeti created her arts impact non profit, Thresh, in 2005, as a platform inviting multidisciplinary artistic collaborators and thought leaders to work towards a common voice on issues that impact our global society with a focus on women and youth.

Conversations with Cunningham & Cage: is a dialogue between composer Kamala Sankaram and choreographer Preeti Vasudevan. The two artists challenge the audience to rethink cultural impact in creativity by drawing aleatory comparisons to the early works created between Merce Cunningham and John Cage based on the nine emotional states in Indian theater. The work this evening explores the emotions of love, surprise, fear, peace and anger.Co-Creators: Preeti Vasudevan and Kamala SankaramChoreography: Preeti VasudevanComposer: Kamala SankaramPerformers: Preeti Vasudevan Premiered: November 2022, Flea Theater, NYC*Development has been supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Harkness Foundation

I am a Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer & researcher and I have been performing my own works for the last 15 years. I have been training for more than 30 years and under the guidance of Bragha Bessel since 2009.

Proposal 1: Solo work: Ananga, the one without a body: 12-13 mins: A verse from Skandapurana describes the particular moment of burning of Kama as Shiva's right eye was in meditation; left eye was looking at Parvati lovingly and the third eye was burning Kama with anger. This choreography explores that moment through dance with grahabheda and talabheda.

Proposal 2: Solo: Descent of Ganga: 15 mins: This is a work I showcased at Erasing Borders during Covid (virtual showing). I would love to present this in person.Proposal

Proposal 3: Group work: 11-12 mins: This work describes the process of casting a Bronze Nataraja statue using Lost Wax method.

Arushi Mudgal is an acclaimed Odissi dancer and choreographer celebrated for her technical virtuosity and innovative approach to tradition. Trained under Guru Madhavi Mudgal, she has received international recognition, with her work Mūrta–Amūrta being named among The New York Times’ Top Ten Dances of 2018. After watching her performance in New York, Alastair Macaulay, former Chief Dance Critic of the New York Times, wrote: “I was amazed by how fully she seemed one of India’s most remarkable dancers.” 

In 2008, Arushi was the only artiste from India invited by the legendary Pina Bausch to perform at the Internationales Tanz Festival in Germany. She has performed at major festivals across the USA, UK, Europe, South America and Asia. Her cross-genre collaborations span contemporary music, opera and interdisciplinary performance. She has co-authored a book on the aesthetics of Odissi, and conducts workshops globally. She has received several awards and accolades, including the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Govt. of India, and has been featured as one of the ‘Game Changers of India’ by India Today.

Sawani Mudgal is a distinguished Hindustani classical vocalist known for her versatility as a performer, music educator, and collaborator. Trained under her father, Pandit Madhup Mudgal, at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in New Delhi, she was awarded the gold medal for her Master’s degree in Music from Khairagarh University. 

Sawani has performed at prestigious venues in the USA including the Kennedy Center and the Wolftrap Performing Arts Center, the UK, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Reunion Island, among others.  Her international collaborations include the Indo-Flamenco production directed by Carlos Saura in Spain, performances with the Belgian ensemble Ragini Trio, and the Indo-Brazilian project Samwaad presented across Brazil, France, and the Netherlands. In India, she has appeared at major festivals including the Khusrau-Kabir Festival, Bhakti Utsav, and Mahindra Kabira Festival. She also conducts music workshops across the world. 

Deeply rooted in the devotional music tradition, Sawani’s diverse repertoire includes compositions by Kabir, Meera, Surdas, and Guru Nanak. She teaches at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Delhi and leads its children’s choir, the Gandharva Baal Vrind.

Trained in Odissi dance under the watchful eye of Guru Madhavi Mudgal at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in New Delhi, Shalakha Rai performs extensively within India and abroad. Some of her significant solo performances include the Anandotsavam Festival (UK), Odissi Dance Festival (Auckland), Festival of Indian Dance (New Zealand), Natarani Festival (Ahmedabad), and Abhivyakti at NMACC (Mumbai). As the principal dancer of her guru’s ensemble, she has performed at leading international platforms including the Fall for Dance Festival in New York, the Darbar Festival in the United Kingdom, and the Festival of India in Spain, among others.

Shalakha is empanelled with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Doordarshan. She is actively associated with SPICMACAY, conducting lecture-demonstrations and workshops regularly. Her honours include the Akhil Bharatiya Pratibha Award, the K.N. Mulay Award, and the Young Achievers’ Award from the Vrindan Foundation. She has also presented her work before distinguished dignitaries, like Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India; Mr. Barack Obama, former President of the United States of America; as well as Shri Pranab Mukherjee and Smt. Pratibha Patil, former Presidents of India.