Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to her and said her passion towards Kathak and Indian classical dances were reflected in her remarkable work over the years
Contemporary dancer, Shruti Maria Datar’s ‘C. Tactile’ is all about the power of touch
The Mumbai-based dancer will present her dance choreography in Bengaluru on April 11
What to Know About This Weekend’s NDA College Nationals
With the excitement of January’s Universal Dance Association (UDA) College Nationals dying down, dancers won’t have to wait long for their next obsession: National Dance Alliance (NDA) College Nationals are just around the corner. This year they’ll take place April 9–13 in Daytona, FL. Ever wonder what separates these two collegiate national championships, or what you should be looking out for in Daytona? Dance Spirit has got you covered. UDA vs NDA What separates UDA from NDA? For starters, while teams compete each dance style separately at UDA (think Hip Hop, Jazz, and Pom events), NDA is known for its […]
The making of Adishakti, a unique art research space in Auroville
Adishakti artistic director Vinay Kumar on how he found a guru in Veenapani Chawla and the joy of taking forward her vision.
Should You Get a Dance Teacher Certification?
Jane Vorburger seemed well-qualified to teach dance back in 2008, after dancing with American Ballet Theatre for five years, getting a master’s degree in dance from New York University, and teaching at ABT and top studios like Steps on Broadway. But there was something else she felt she needed: a dance teacher certification. Jane Vorburger, who has two certifications, teaching at the University of Oklahoma summer intensive. Courtesy University of Oklahoma. “When I look at my classes from when I first started teaching, they were not good,” she admits; performance expertise doesn’t always translate to teaching expertise. She became certified […]
Janane Sethunarayanan impressed with her well-nuanced portrayals
Janane’s expressions to convey the angst of the pining nayika stood out in her recital for The Music Academy’s HCL concert series
How to Audition for an NFL Cheer Team, According to the Experts
With football season officially over, most of the world won’t be thinking about the gridiron until the leaves start to turn again. But there is one group of people who are ramping up for weeks of competition with their eyes on the 50-yard line: NFL cheer-team hopefuls. Every year, NFL cheer teams hold open auditions for new members during the winter and early spring months. Current cheerleaders reaudition, familiar faces return hoping to make a team after years of trying, and brand-new rookie candidates step onto the turf for the first time. Dance Spirit spoke to four current and former […]
A dance production inspired by Vedanta Desika’s life
Sri Noopurlaya’s ‘Sri Desika Vaibhavam’ seamlessly wove the saint-philospher’s compositions in its narrative.
Letter From the Editor: A Conversation on Cleaning Choreography and More!
If there’s one thing that’s on any dance teacher’s mind as we approach recital and competition season, it’s choreography—pristine, perfectly synced choreography. In fact, cleaning choreography is the type of skill that seems like it should be intuitive but is actually pretty elusive. Do you simply run the routine over and over again or just tidy up a portion of it that isn’t working? And is there a go-to method to tidy things up or is it just a matter of improvising? In our next DT+ Teacher Talk, “Choreographing Squeaky-Clean Dance Team Routines,” on Thursday, April 10, at 12 pm […]
Meet Radha Varadan, the Kathak Dancer Reinterpreting Classic Ballet Variations
Radha Varadan’s ingenious reimaginings of some of ballet’s most famous variations using kathak, a form of Indian classical dance, have earned her serious traction online. Based in India and the U.S., Varadan trained in both ballet and kathak growing up. She later studied postmodern dance (and molecular biology) at George Washington University, and today she dances with the Abhinava Dance Company in Bengaluru, India. Varadan took a moment to talk about her viral hybrid videos, her creative process, and how Indian classical dance is perceived in the West. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Radha Varadan (@radha.varadan) What inspired you to […]