In 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 cover…

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 …

Our 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 …

Our 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 Asia…

In 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 art…

For 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 …

For 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 conve…

In 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 se…

In 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 d…

We’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 tha…

In 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. Th…

Ameya 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 quest…

Ameya 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 gi…

In 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…

Ameya 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:…

In 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, bha…

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 I…