by Ananya Chatterjea (review)
In many ways, dance is closely associated with the concept of time. On a microscopic scale, time forms the basis for rhythm in movement. On a macroscopic scale, dance is very much a product of the era in which it is produced and performed. Moreover, in this unprecedented period, artists are finding new meaning in their practices. COVID-19 has revealed existing and new inequalities seen in dance practices, funding structures, and governmental policies, shifting the ways that artists perceive their practices. Crediting yet expanding on the concept of time, Ananya Chatterjea’s Heat and Alterity in Contemporary Dance: South-South Choreographies explosively redefines the “contemporary.”…read more
by Preethi Ramaprasad
Bharatanatyam, a form of dance originating in South India, has rapidly gained a global reputation. With roots in temple ritual and salons passed from generation to generation through the hereditary dance and music community of Tamil Nadu, in post-colonial India, the practice began to attract students and performers from various backgrounds around the world as a performing art. While Bharatanatyam practitioners continue to navigate this history of shifts in performative practice, the art has now gained a serious fan following. With intricate movements, elaborate costuming, and intense training, its spheres of influence have grown to include everything from solo dancers to scholars to global touring ensembles…read more