Join Dr. Preethi Ramaprasad as she recounts her personal journey learning abhinaya as a South Asian American traveling between India and the United States. In discovering the political and historical underpinnings of the form, she asks questions of expressive technique in the Bharatanatyam repertoire, ranging from pieces on mythology to themes of love. Preethi asks, as we learn more about the art form's past, present, and future, what can it do? How can we tap into Bharatanatyam's potential?
Dr. Ramaprasad is a dancer, curator, musician, and researcher. Her journey teaching and performing Bharatanatyam has led to artistic community-building endeavors across India, Europe, and the United States. She co-runs When Eyes Speak Choreography Festival, The Varnam Salon, and Performing Voices of Bhakti which aim to create safe spaces to share South Asian expression in the diaspora. Ramaprasad has a doctorate in Critical Dance Studies from UC Riverside where her dissertation focused on representation and the performance of myth among transnational Bharatanatyam practitioners. Ramaprasad's work has been funded by and earned accolades through the San Francisco Arts Commission and SF Public Library Residency, American Society for Theater Research, Gluck Fellows Program, Zellerbach Family Foundation, American Conservatory Theater ArtShare Program, Deborah Slater Dance Theater, SAFEhouse Arts Lead Resident Fellowship, and the All-Rounder Yuva Kala Bharati for Young Artists. More at preethiramaprasad.com.
