Presenting hybridity and versatility of
Indian Classical dance forms
Work in progress and a workshop by Shalaka Kulkarni - Indian Classical dancer based in Chicago, IL (USA). 

Shalaka Kulkarni is a trained dancer in two Indian Classical dance forms - Bharatnatyam and Kathak. She started her dance journey in India at a very young age and continued that when she moved to Chicago. She has presented her work at festivals and venues like Dance Chicago 2004-2007, Stockyards Women Festival, Loyola University of Chicago, for Kalapriya Dance Company, Harper College, Depaul University, Columbia College Chicago, Prop Theatre, Mandala arts and for FIA Chicago. She won 2005 Dance Chicago Outstanding Award for her work, “Untamed”. She was commissioned to develop new work for Chicago Cultural Center through their 2007 Dance Bridge residency program. She received her MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts and Media at Columbia College Chicago.

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

Shalaka will share a work in progress followed by a workshop teaching a hybrid dance language that integrates two different Indian Classical dance forms with Modern dance and vernacular gestures to share how to initiate, create and present personal narratives. 

"Presenting hybridity and versatility of Indian Classical dance forms" - work in progress from work called 'Tangled Path' along with a workshop on using Indian Classical dance form as either a decorative aspect or the main vehicle for your art work in establishing stage presence and incorporating personal narratives in movement form for all styles of performers. 

Shalaka explores the idea of Indian Classical traditions and how they can be pushed in terms of the content and form other than concepts from Hindu Mythology. Her work is a hybrid between Indian Classical dance and use of other dance influences. She uses this hybrid movement-based language that has Indian Classical at its core to gradually build a pyramid of ideas. --

Examples of some of Shalaka's previous dance work deconstructing Indian Classical dance form can be found here: vimeo.com/shalaka & www.shalakak.com