Namasya and Swayambhu

Shantala Shivalingappa offered a program of contemporary solos and traditional Indian dance, and made a video recording of her work while in residence. A renowned performer in Kuchipudi, a 2,000-year-old Indian style that fuses dance, music, and theater, Shivalingappa has been praised for her grace, finesse, and powerful presence on stage. The program began with two solos that paired her sensuous and precise dancing style with new forms. This was followed by an excerpt from Gamaka, a Kuchipudi-based performance choreographed by Shivalingappa, danced in shimmering silks and in rhythmically complex and playful dialogue with four master musicians.

Born in Madras, India, and brought up in Paris, Shivalingappa was inspired by Kuchipudi Master Vempati Chinna Satyam, and received an intense and rigorous training in Kuchipudi. She has also performed with some of the greatest contemporary theater and dance artists, including Maurice Béjart, Peter Brook, and Pina Bausch.