Kumari Suraj has spent their life finding their identity through dance. Their father is South Asian and Afro-Caribbean, and their mother is Native American and European, and the cultural dances associated with their ethnic background have played a major role in their self-discovery. As a child, Suraj made it a lifelong goal to learn as […]
Ranee Ramaswamy, founder and co-artistic director of Ragamala Dance Company, says her teacher, Alarmél Valli, used an image of a party blower to help explain dynamics within bharatanatyam. “You blow the straw, the feather goes out, and it curls and comes back. It goes out with a lot of fervor, it’s strong, but then the […]
In flamenco, the hands and fingers play many different roles. Clapping, snapping, body percussion, slower movements that complement fast footwork, and even playing an instrument are all tools of the trade, says Xianix Barrera, a Bessie-nominated flamenco dancer and the founder of Xianix Barrera Flamenco Company. Flamenco dancers also use their hands and fingers to […]
Bharatanatyam dancer Mythili Prakash is ready to push the boundaries of Indian classical dance. Despite being deeply rooted in the tradition of the genre, she is using her works to question long-held social constructs related to femininity, beauty and mythology. Prakash studied bharatanatyam from childhood under the tutelage of her mother, Viji Prakash. Viji, who […]
Dear DT+ Community, Among the many joys we experience as dance educators, it’s the ability to instill in our students a deeper meaning and appreciation for the art form, that is perhaps most fulfilling. That’s why I’m so excited for you to read this month’s feature on how master hula teachers known as “Kumu Hula” […]
Navatman Dance artistic director Sahasra Sambamoorthi studied bharata natyam with Ramya Ramnarayan for 14 years. Ramnarayan taught her how to showcase her individual strengths. “She works with the person in front of her. She doesn’t try to make us all the same dancer. There’s a piece she taught me when I was very young that […]