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Bharatanatyam
January 13, 2019 @ 1:00 pm
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We invite you to a performance of Bharatanatyam — an ancient classical dance form that originated in South India. Bharatanatyam is the oldest classical dance tradition of India and consists of intense footwork and a codified vocabulary of sign language that includes gestures of hands, eyes and face. Pieces range from solo work to group choreography as the dance form allows for intense variety within the set framework.
This dance presentation will be performed by three inspiring, young dancers based in the tristate area. The dancers have been trained under renowned gurus and have performed at prestigious venues in India and in New York City. The recital is curated by Damir Tasmagambetov.
About the Artists
Sloka Iyengar, PhD, PMP studied Bharatanatyam and Indian folk dance under Guru Smt. Maheshwari Nagarajan at the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad, India, and has been performing in NYC for several years. Sloka is an Associate Medical Director at Phase Five Communications, and a faculty member at the American Museum of Natural History.
Karthiga Devi began learning Bharatanatyam under Smt. Santha Baskar of Nrityalaya Arts Academy (Singapore) at the age of 6 and continued her dance education at Bhakti Natya Niketan (Coimbatore, India) under Smt. Karuna Sagari and Smt. Rajamally Balakrishakurup. She has a Master of Arts in Critical Communication Studies, and works as a Human Resources Administrator in a non-profit school that serves students who are Twice-Exceptional. Karthiga is passionate about social advocacy and has collaborated with performance artists around the US on social advocacy and arts education projects.
La’Toya Latney DVM is a veterinarian, an Assistant Professor of Clinical Zoo and Exotic Animal Medicine and Chief of Service at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Philadelphia. Since 2008, La’Toya has performed for several NYC cultural dance programs, including the NYC Fringe Festival, completed her arangetram in 2015 under Smt. Malini Srinivasan, and continues to study with many world-renowned exponents in the field.
Damir Tasmagambetov is a dynamic young aspiring Bharatanatyam dancer who has graduated from Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts Kalakshetra Foudation with a 1st class Diploma in Bharatanatyam. He also holds an M.A. Degree in Bharatanatyam from the University of Madras, Chennai, Tamilnadu. He spent long periods studying in India with prestigious teachers of dance and choreography. He has given scores of solo and group performances at major dance celebrations, and many prestigious platforms in India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the USA. In 2017, The Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Council for Cultural Relation (ICCR) has selected him to be Empanelled Artist of ICCR, New Delhi, India.
