Shows
Off the Beat Dance PodcastOff Season Chats - On Community Building & Sustainability in the DiasporaIn an epilogue to our Off Season Chats, we bring a very special roundtable discussion that we led as part of our first collaboration with Rasabodhi Arts Foundation for its 2023 festival EVAM. We co-hosted a panel discussion with six brilliant classical dancers from around the world. Our in-depth conversation was recorded on January 30, and it covers a wide range of topics especially relevant for Indian classical dance in the diaspora, including communities and dance spaces, sustainability and funding, as well as opportunities and hopes for building a new dance future. We’ve edited the conversation for length and...2023-03-0159 min
Off the Beat Dance PodcastOff Season Chats - What Did We Learn?Over the past seven weeks, we’ve shared conversations with dancers who move and inspire us in a new series called Off Season Chats. Before we truly wrap up Off Season Chats, we have to bring it to a close OTB style. So, we will reflect on what we’ve learned over the course of these conversations and leave with a call to action. Themes that emerged over the course of the last seven episodes include sustainability, technology, trusting process, and building community. We’ll also be talking about what our guests said that challenged our own ways of...2022-08-2555 min
Off the Beat Dance PodcastOff Season Chats - Brinda Guha on Building Dance FuturesOur last Off Season Chat is a 2-part conversation with Brinda Guha, a NYC-based multifaceted dancer and choreographer who has trained in a variety of styles including: Kathak, Manipuri, Yorchhā, Flamenco, and Contemporary. Last week, Brinda reflected on her artistic journey, and ways to build a dance community responsibly, and the future of South Asian dance at large. This week, she elaborates on the dance community, and how we can build on the wisdom of the previous generations to nurture and hold space for the needs of today and tomorrow. Off Season Chats is a new series in w...2022-08-0443 min
Off the Beat Dance PodcastOff Season Chats - Brinda Guha on Embracing MultiplicityOur last Off Season Chat is a two-part conversation with Brinda Guha, a NYC-based multifaceted dancer and choreographer who has trained in a variety of styles including: Kathak, Manipuri, Yorchhā, Flamenco, and Contemporary. This week, Brinda reflects on her artistic journey, ways to build a dance community responsibly, and the future of South Asian dance at large.Off Season Chats is a new series in which we have intimate conversations with dancers who are forging new paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. Our special guests are accomplished artists whose works span across many genres of Sout...2022-07-2848 min
Off the Beat Dance PodcastOff Season Chats - Thaji Dias on Family Legacy & SustainabilityIn the fifth episode of Off Season Chats, Ameya & Kiran chat with Colombo-based Kandyan dance teacher, performer, & principal dancer at the world-renowned Chitrasena School of Dance Thaji Dias. She reflects on her artistic journey, upholding a multigenerational family legacy, and how the pandemic and Sri Lanka’s economic struggles are impacting artists.Off Season Chats is a new series in which we have intimate conversations with dancers who are forging new paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. Our special guests are accomplished artists whose works span across many genres of South Asian dance including: Kathak, Ka...2022-07-2158 min
Off the Beat Dance PodcastOff Season Chats - Gangadhar Venkat on Dancing to Empower & Uplift CommunitiesFor a special two-part Off Season Chat, Ameya and Kiran speak with Sai Venkata Gangadhar, a Kuchipudi dancer and teacher from Hyderabad. This week, Gangadhar delves deeper into the impact of social media on dance and the next generation of dancers. He also discusses powerful ways dance can connect, empower, and uplift communities. Off Season Chats is a new series in which we have intimate conversations with dancers who are forging new paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. Our special guests are accomplished artists whose works span across many genres of South Asian dance including: K...2022-07-1438 min
Off the Beat Dance PodcastOff Season Chats - Gangadhar Venkat on Dance in the Age of Social MediaFor a special two-part Off Season Chat, Ameya and Kiran speak with Sai Venkata Gangadhar, a Kuchipudi dancer and teacher from Hyderabad. This week, Gangadhar reflects on his dance journey and begins delving into the impact of his dance training, education, and social media on his art. Off Season Chats is a new series in which we have intimate conversations with dancers who are forging new paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. Our special guests are accomplished artists whose works span across many genres of South Asian dance including: Kathak, Kandyan, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Odissi, a...2022-07-0741 min
Off the Beat Dance PodcastOff Season Chats - Kaustavi Sarkar on Decolonizing Academia & MindsIn the second episode of Off Season Chats, Ameya and Kiran speak with Kaustavi Sarkar, an Odissi dancer, researcher, and educator based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She shares her artistic and academic journey, bridging research and practice, decolonizing dance and academia, and building a South Asian dance consortium.Off Season Chats is a new series in which we have intimate conversations with dancers who are forging new paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. Our special guests are accomplished artists whose works span across many genres of South Asian dance including: Kathak, Kandyan, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri...2022-06-3049 min
Off the Beat Dance PodcastOff Season Chats - Keerthana Ravi on Crowdfunding and CraftIn the first episode of Off Season Chats, Ameya and Kiran speak with Keerthana Ravi, a Bharatanatyam dancer, curator, and entrepreneur based in Mumbai, India. She shares her incredible journey in dance, takes us behind-the-scenes of developing India's first crowd-funded classical dance festival, and discusses the thrills and challenges of dancing during the pandemic. Off Season Chats is a new series in which we have intimate conversations with dancers who are forging new paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. Our special guests are accomplished artists whose works span across many genres of South Asian dance...2022-06-231h 07
Off the Beat Dance PodcastOff Season Chats - Coming 6/23/22We’re back! Off The Beat finally returns after eight long months with a brand-new series called Off Season Chats. While planning for Season 2, we decided to have some intimate conversations with five dancers who are forging new and exciting paths in their artistic, personal, and professional lives. As always, we strive to create content for you that is simple, accessible, conversational, actionable, and joyful. And we remain firmly committed to building a dance future...one beat a time! Episode 1 of Off Season Chats is out on June 23 with episodes releasing weekly across all major platforms and on our web...2022-06-2100 min
Off the Beat Dance PodcastOn Embodied PracticeIn the season finale, Ameya and Kiran ponder over what embodied practice looks like for Indian dancers with special guest Dr. Yashoda Thakore. Dr. Thakore discusses how to define embodied practice, bridge academia and performance, and find meaningful ways to connect dance to the world around us. Ameya and Kiran reflect on what they have from Dr. Thakore’s brilliant conversation and throughout all six episodes to bring Season 1 to a close. Call to Action: Dance in service to your life, your community, and the world around you. Dive deeper: Jaya Senapati: Nrtta Ratnavali (2013) - translated b...2021-10-1544 min
Off the Beat Dance PodcastOn the Sacred & SecularAmeya and Kiran continue their exploration of joy through sacred and secular rituals surrounding dance while chatting about chaat (their favorite Indian snack), scrubbing floors, and stolen bells. What exactly is ritual and why is it sacred? Are there right and wrong rituals for Indian classical dancers? Ameya and Kiran examine these critical questions using a compelling definition of ritual from The Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile. Call to Action: Have your rituals changed in response to the world around you? Dive deeper: Casper ter Kuile – The Power of Ritual (on Ameya's current reading list...2021-10-0844 minOff the Beat Dance PodcastOn JoyAmeya and Kiran reflect on their relationship with joy on and off stage, especially after nearly two tumultuous years of pandemic. They revisit Pārśvadeva’s Sangīta Samaya Sāra for his unique perspective on the dancer’s joy and uncover what Tamil literature from the ancient Sangam period also has to say about it. Call to action: Think about what gives you joy and how to bring it into your dance. Dive deeper: Mandakranta Bose – Movement and Mimesis: Idea of Dance in the Sanskritic Tradition S. Raghuraman - History of Tamil’s Dance (Translated into Englis...2021-09-3040 minOff the Beat Dance PodcastOn Rasa RevolutionsIn Part 2 of a special two-episode arc on Rasa, Ameya and Kiran explore the application of Rasa theory to devotional pieces, delve into Bhakti as a rasa, and unearth power structures that might be lurking within these texts. They bring it full circle by teasing apart the implications of the history of Rasa theory on the practice of Indian classical dance today. Call to action: Dance a piece for someone without telling them what to expect. Tell us how they respond!Dive deeper: ● Mandakranta Bose – Movement and Mimesis: Idea of Dance in the Sanskritic Tra...2021-09-2341 minOff the Beat Dance PodcastOn Rasa & RasamAmeya and Kiran muse over rasam recipes while diving deep into the foundations of Rasa theory in the Natya Sastra in Part 1 of this special two-episode arc. They discuss how it is understood today and present a compelling alternative theory from ancient Tamil Literature.Call to action: What changes would you make to the Navarasa list? Dive deeper: ● Mandakranta Bose – Movement and Mimesis: Idea of Dance in the Sanskritic Tradition● B. M. Chaturvedi and Sriramachandrudu Pullela – Some unexplored aspects of rasa theory● Bharata’s Natya Shastra – Chapter 6, which is on rasa (Ameya’s go-to edition is the...2021-09-1639 minOff the Beat Dance PodcastOn Hands, Eyes, & Ancient TextsIn the inaugural episode, Ameya and Kiran set the intention for this podcast. They then explore the slokam “Yato Hastas Tato Drishti” through their personal relationships with this Sanskrit verse, the connection between eyes and body control, and their exploration of ancient texts as they relate to the practice of dance. They also discuss rasa, bhava, abhinaya, and how to get invited to high school parties. Call to action: Think back to some of the early lessons of your dance classes. What did you learn then that has stayed with you until now? Dive deeper - here are some o...2021-09-0940 minOff the Beat Dance PodcastOff the Beat Dance Podcast premieres September 9th!Welcome to an Off the Beat dance podcast with Ameya and Kiran! There are a couple of phrases that are endemic to every Indian classical dancer: “Dance is more than just moving hands and legs” and “Dance is a way of life.” And you know, at times that might start sounding a bit trite. We want to dive deeper. We want to look at the common aspects of Indian classical dance forms with fresh eyes, bringing our lived experiences, academic nerd joy, and - most importantly - the questions that drive us. Basically, we’re taking...2021-09-0201 min