TEACHING EXPERIENCE
- Guest lecture, Understanding Dance, School of Dance, Oklahoma University, November 2025
- Guest speaker on Indian classical dances, World Theater I, Lafayette College, September 2025
- Workshop for Svasti dance school (Krishna stuti), Greensboro, NC, USA (March 2025)
- Individual arangetram training (Shiva Keertanam) - Nayanai Annamalai, Svasti dance school, Greensboro, NC, USA (March 20205)
- Workshop for Svasti dance school (Devi Keerthanam), Greensboro, NC, USA (June 2019)
- Individual training (Tillana) - Anajali Pisharody, Svasti dance school, Greensboro, NC, USA
- Instructor in Bharatanatyam, Vanderbilt Dance Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA (2014 — 2018)
- Senior faculty member, Ganesa Natyalaya, New Delhi, India (2006 — 2013).
THEMATIC PRODUCTIONS
- Devi Sarvamayam – the goddess permeates all : a margam based on the goddesses of Hindu mythology.
This production explores the different facets of women, and how their various roles in society
are linked to facets of the goddesses. The pieces touch upon a woman’s strength, right to choose and their significance in today’s context. First performed in 2017. Run time : 90 mins.
- Apaam Swarupam – the form of water : a margam based on the rivers of India. It incorporates symbolism, regional cultures, languages, Hindu mythology and geography to tell the story of the major rivers of North and South India: Ganga, Yamuna, Tungabhadra and Kaveri. These rivers have been vital for India’s past and present economy, but with climate change, our rivers are threatened. Telling the stories of these rivers is my way of reminding our global society of the need to engage with conservation and preservation efforts. First performed in 2023. Run time: 90 mins.
- Prakratihi Shamayati - Nature Heals : this short production is meant to highlight how nature has a healing effect on us, especially our mental health. Mental health concerns plague all of us, and students are particularly susceptible to them. The purpose of the dance pieces is to promote dialogue about such issues, by repelling the stigma often associated with such conversations. The production has 3 pieces – one dedicated to the healing sun, the second on the pressure men face to “stay strong”, and the last is one the interconnectedness of nature. First performed in 2026. Run time : 30 mins.
CURATED CHOREOGRAPHIES
- Science in Sacred spaces : a tillana depicting Indian Hindu temple architecture, accompanied by photographic visuals. First performed for the Variety Math Fest, Joint Mathematics Meeting, San Francisco, CA in 2024 (curated by Dan Margalit and Nancy Schreich). Run time: 11 mins.
- MaShuKa – the beloved birds : an alarippu depicting three beloved birds in Hindu mythology; the peacock (MAyura) for Saraswati and Skanda, the parrot (SHUka) for Kamakshi and Kamadeva and the owl (uluKA) for Lakshmi. First performed for Performing the Trail (curated by Dr. Nandini Sikand), Easton, PA, in 2024. Run time: 6 mins.
- The Metazoan Medley : Set to the track Mind Ecology by the famous music group Shakti, this piece is choreographed as a ”moving sculpture”, morphing through myriad animals and creatures in our animal kingdom. It is well established that all life forms are connected in the ”circle of life”, and this piece is meant to convey not just the diversity and beauty found in nature, but also this interconnectedness. Man’s ability to understand evolution and this interconnectedness should be the basis for our compassion and resolve to protect the environment. First performed for Performing the Trail (curated by Dr. Nandini Sikand), Easton, PA, in 2025. Run time: 7 mins.
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