Nrityavana Talk Series

STEM from Dance Website: https://www.stemfromdance.org/ STEM from Dance Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcuKl_U47REHI1zr1upH5kw Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:24 Earliest memory of Dance 02:30 Influence of College life 05:20 Teach for America stint 07:33 Stem from Dance 09:35 Contribution of Dance in childhood 10:53 Challenges in blending Dance and STEM 14:39 STEM from Dance Student Projects 18:30 How STEM from Dance helps students 20:00 Challenges during Pandemic 22:00 How to volunteer at STEM from Dance 24:40 Definition of Dance 25:13 Diversity in Dance

Soumya is a dance director for Buddha - a musical by Naatak. Watch this interview where she speaks with us about her relationship with dance and how she uses dance in various musical productions. Naatak is a theater company in the San Francisco area dedicated to producing intelligent and entertaining plays. Started in 1995 by students at the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University, Naatak is the most prominent and largest Indian theater company in the United States, having performed continuously for 25 years. About the play Naatak’s annual musical is set in the sixth century BCE and written entirely in rhyme. The Shakya prince Siddharth leaves his father’s palace, attains enlightenment under a peepal tree to become Buddha, roams the kingdoms of Magadh and Kaushal to persuade the world, and alters the course of human history. The play features an ensemble cast, live music, and dance. With a giant mural for a set, colorful costumes, and imaginative props, the play is a visual treat, and a unique outdoor experience in the shade of lush maple and oak trees. Tickets link: https://www.naatak.org/buddha/ Follow Nrityavana for more dance content: Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/nrityavana Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nrityavana_... Email: nrityavana@gmail.com Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Earliest memory of Dance 01:45 Journey from Dance to Theatre 03:00 Production and Directorial ventures 03:35 Buddha play 04:46 Gandhi play 05:01 Mahabharat play 05:37 Difference between Musical and Theatre 08:20 Importance of Dance Diversity 10:28 Define Dance

In this interview snippet, Rakeshji shares the inspiration behind various Chhau Chalis. Chhau has its origin in Martial art, but the information shared in this interview shows how the tribal and folk traditions were stitched in this dance form. Rakeshji also gives a glimpse of a few Chalis used in #chhau. Chhau is a dance form from East India Region. In 2010, it was declared as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Rakesh Sai Babu is a Mayurbhanj Chhaau Artist and Director of @trikayaadancecompany. Born to a royal ancestry of renowned Mayurbhanj Chhaau performers, he actively performs and conducts workshops all around the world. Rakeshji has been awarded the USTAAD Bismillah Khan Award by Sangeet Natak Academy for his contribution to the field of Chhaau. #chhau #dancediversity #nrityavanadancediversity #unescoheritage #chhaudance #indiandanceform #martialdance #mayurbhanjchhau #mayurbhanjchhaudance #danceinfo #danceresearch #danceinterview Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:21 Techniques of Chhau dance 04:05 Vocabulary of Chhau dance 05:55 Chhau dance moves 07:35 Derivation of Dance moves from daily activities

Ariaki Dandawate, born and brought up in New Jersey, has been studying Kathak under the discipleship of Guru Pandita Archana Joglekar for over 15 years. Having been exposed to the nuances, beauty, and prestigious lineage of Kathak by her guru from a young age, Aria has spent the past several years seriously pursuing every aspect of the art form. In 2014, Aria received her Visharad (Bachelors) degree from the SAMVED Exam Board, and in August of 2016 she presented her Rang Manch Pradarshan (solo performance). Her Visharad degree in Kathak has allowed her to study the essence of the Natya Shastra – a pillar of the arts – as well as become proficient in complex practical and theoretical applications of both Taal and Bhav Anga. Aria has given solo performances at prestigious festivals such as Guru Wandana in Mumbai, Rabindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai, Geeva Heritage Festival in Kentucky, and Sangeet Mahotsav NY, to name a few. In the Tri-State area, Ariaki has performed at many events held by various cultural, artistic, and philanthropic organizations. In July of 2015, Ariaki was a Top 5 Finalist in Zee TV’s Dance India Dance North America competition held in Mumbai, India. Aria is a faculty member at Archana Arts, primarily training Diploma and Bachelors students at the academy and she has recently taken the responsibility of choreography and rehearsal assistantship at Archana Arts. Ariaki is a regular examiner under the SAMVED Exam board within NJ and Texas, Maryland, and Boston. Apart from her rigorous training in Kathak, Ariaki graduated in May with a bachelors degree in Biotechnology and Computer Science, and is currently working as an Associate Computational Biologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Kathak similarities to Bharatnatyam 02:20 Bharatnatyam adavus to Kathak Hasktaks 03:00 Abhinaya in Kathak and Bharatnatyam

Ariaki Dandawate, born and brought up in New Jersey, has been studying Kathak under the discipleship of Guru Pandita Archana Joglekar for over 15 years. Having been exposed to the nuances, beauty, and prestigious lineage of Kathak by her guru from a young age, Aria has spent the past several years seriously pursuing every aspect of the art form. In 2014, Aria received her Visharad (Bachelors) degree from the SAMVED Exam Board, and in August of 2016 she presented her Rang Manch Pradarshan (solo performance). Her Visharad degree in Kathak has allowed her to study the essence of the Natya Shastra – a pillar of the arts – as well as become proficient in complex practical and theoretical applications of both Taal and Bhav Anga. Aria has given solo performances at prestigious festivals such as Guru Wandana in Mumbai, Rabindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai, Geeva Heritage Festival in Kentucky, and Sangeet Mahotsav NY, to name a few. In the Tri-State area, Ariaki has performed at many events held by various cultural, artistic, and philanthropic organizations. In July of 2015, Ariaki was a Top 5 Finalist in Zee TV’s Dance India Dance North America competition held in Mumbai, India. Aria is a faculty member at Archana Arts, primarily training Diploma and Bachelors students at the academy and she has recently taken the responsibility of choreography and rehearsal assistantship at Archana Arts. Ariaki is a regular examiner under the SAMVED Exam board within NJ and Texas, Maryland, and Boston. Apart from her rigorous training in Kathak, Ariaki graduated in May with a bachelors degree in Biotechnology and Computer Science, and is currently working as an Associate Computational Biologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA. Ariaki's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariaki.kathak https://www.facebook.com/ariaki.kathak/ Follow Nrityavana for more dance content: www.nrityavana.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nrityavana Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nrityavana_dance https://www.instagram.com/nrityavana_dancediversity Email: nrityavana@gmail.com Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Kathak in USA 02:50 Gharanas in Kathak

Find out more about Katie Wong and her work: http://www.katerinawong.com/bio.html https://rawdance.org/ Cover Picture Photo Credits: Hillary Goidell Follow Nrityavana for more dance content: www.nrityavana.com Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/nrityavana Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nrityavana_... Email: nrityavana@gmail.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Influence of Cultural Anthropology in Dance 02:50 Use of other senses in a Dance Performance 06:27 Experience of living in China

Ariaki Dandawate, born and brought up in New Jersey, has been studying Kathak under the discipleship of Guru Pandita Archana Joglekar for over 15 years. Having been exposed to the nuances, beauty, and prestigious lineage of Kathak by her guru from a young age, Aria has spent the past several years seriously pursuing every aspect of the art form. In 2014, Aria received her Visharad (Bachelors) degree from the SAMVED Exam Board, and in August of 2016 she presented her Rang Manch Pradarshan (solo performance). Her Visharad degree in Kathak has allowed her to study the essence of the Natya Shastra – a pillar of the arts – as well as become proficient in complex practical and theoretical applications of both Taal and Bhav Anga. Aria has given solo performances at prestigious festivals such as Guru Wandana in Mumbai, Rabindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai, Geeva Heritage Festival in Kentucky, and Sangeet Mahotsav NY, to name a few. In the Tri-State area, Ariaki has performed at many events held by various cultural, artistic, and philanthropic organizations. In July of 2015, Ariaki was a Top 5 Finalist in Zee TV’s Dance India Dance North America competition held in Mumbai, India. Aria is a faculty member at Archana Arts, primarily training Diploma and Bachelors students at the academy and she has recently taken the responsibility of choreography and rehearsal assistantship at Archana Arts. Ariaki is a regular examiner under the SAMVED Exam board within NJ and Texas, Maryland, and Boston. Apart from her rigorous training in Kathak, Ariaki graduated in May with a bachelors degree in Biotechnology and Computer Science, and is currently working as an Associate Computational Biologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 What is Thaat? 01:42 Katha in Kathak 04:20 Upaj in Kathak 06:50 GatNikas 09:10 Rasas depiction in Kathak

Find out more about Katie Wong and her work: http://www.katerinawong.com/bio.html https://rawdance.org/ Cover Picture Photo Credits: Elena Zukova Follow Nrityavana for more dance content: www.nrityavana.com Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/nrityavana Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nrityavana_... Email: nrityavana@gmail.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:32 Creating Art for Digital Medium during Pandemic 05:30 Previous Experiences working with Digital Media Platforms

In this interview snippet, Kathak Artist, Eshani Sathe, speaks to us about her earliest memory of dance and the impact of learning through Guru Shishya Paramapara. Checkout Eshani's work on the following links: https://www.instagram.com/eshanisathe.kathak/ https://www.youtube.com/user/raven55able https://www.facebook.com/eshanisathekathak Stay Connected with us: www.nrityavana.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nrityavana_... https://www.instagram.com/nrityavana_... Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nrityavana/ Write to us - nrityavana@gmail.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Earliest memory of Dance 02:35 Comparing Traditional Method Teaching with Current Method 05:40 Influences of Guru in Life

In this interview snippet, Kathak Artist, Eshani Sathe, speaks to us about teaching an Indian Classical Dance form to the generations growing in the age of Social Media. Checkout Eshani's work on the following links: https://www.instagram.com/eshanisathe.kathak/ https://www.youtube.com/user/raven55able https://www.facebook.com/eshanisathekathak Stay Connected with us: www.nrityavana.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nrityavana_... https://www.instagram.com/nrityavana_... Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nrityavana/ Write to us - nrityavana@gmail.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Teaching Kathak in times of Social Media

In this interview snippet, Kathak Artist, Eshani Sathe, speaks to us about her relationship with her mother Guru. Smt. Radhika Sathe, who is also her Kathak Guru. Checkout Eshani's work on the following links: https://www.instagram.com/eshanisathe.kathak/ https://www.youtube.com/user/raven55able https://www.facebook.com/eshanisathekathak Stay Connected with us: www.nrityavana.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nrityavana_... https://www.instagram.com/nrityavana_... Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nrityavana/ Write to us - nrityavana@gmail.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Relationship with Mother and Guru

In this interview snippet, Kathak Artist, Eshani Sathe, speaks to us about her experience of giving Kathak Performances outside India. Checkout Eshani's work on the following links: https://www.instagram.com/eshanisathe.kathak/ https://www.youtube.com/user/raven55able https://www.facebook.com/eshanisathekathak Stay Connected with us: www.nrityavana.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nrityavana_... https://www.instagram.com/nrityavana_... Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nrityavana/ Write to us - nrityavana@gmail.com Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Reception of Classical Dance outside India 03:25 Reception of Classical Dance within India 04:40 Cultural Dance and Art in United States