Tribe Verified· Performed at Ananya, Trinity, and NMACC.

Bharatanatyam Choreography and Performance Highlights

byDivya RaviAvailable in London, Berlin & major Indian citiesStarts from₹25,000 per itemView full gallery

I create dance that digs deeper—moving beyond traditional steps to uncover rare poetry, ancient languages, and untold stories. These highlights represent my core artistic practice and ongoing research into the narratives of the past.

This is the raw emotion at the heart of my work. Portraying the 15th-century poet-saint Kanhopatra is a visceral experience, a journey into her vulnerability, agony, and ultimate surrender. My choreography for this piece aims to capture that catharsis, making her story felt, not just seen.

The Varnam is the centerpiece of a Bharatanatyam recital, and for me, it's a canvas for both technical rigor and deep emotional exploration. This Reetigowla Ata tala varnam is a piece I fell in love with, a perfect blend of intricate rhythms and potent lyrics that challenges me as both a musician and a dancer.

"Why do you stand obstructing me?" This powerful question from the 6th-century Pāli poetry of Buddhist nuns is the seed of my work, *Abandhana*. My choreography often explores this feeling of being held back, using movement to express the struggle for an unfettered existence.

This is the pure, unbridled joy of the Varkari tradition. In my production *VitthāMāi*, we explore the idea of God as a mother figure. This piece captures the celebratory spirit of devotees, where songs are flung into the air like colors during Holi, and the only response is to dance in abandon.

A moment of offering from my production *SARVASYA*. For me, choreography is about creating a connection between the idea, the dancer, and the audience. This pose captures that feeling of complete surrender to the story and the music.

My process begins here, surrounded by books and ancient texts. This is a glimpse into a rehearsal for *Akhyāt – Ākhyānā*, where we explore poetry by women from centuries past. The research is as much a part of the dance as the movement itself.

The story of Radha's love is timeless, but I wanted to explore her yearning, or 'viraha', with a kinetic, restless energy. Using lines from the Gita Govindam, we set her emotional journey against the structure of an Alaripu, creating a visual representation of her inner turmoil and strength.

This Khamas varnam is a piece I learned from my teacher, Mavin Khoo. It's a beautiful exploration of desire, where the choreography moves between playfulness and intensity. It’s a perfect example of how I approach traditional pieces, finding new layers of emotion and character within them.

About Featured

When we collaborate, my process goes beyond movement. It begins with sourcing rare Pāli, Marathi, or Tamil texts to build a narrative. We will work closely with musicians to ensure the soundscape matches the emotional weight of your theme before we finalize any choreography. Whether you need a solo performance or a full-length production, we move together from research to the final stage.

Performed at Ananya, Trinity, and NMACC. — Approved by the tribe

Divya Ravi

Available in London, Berlin & major Indian citiesStarts from ₹25,000 per item

I see dance as a way to listen to voices that have been lost over the centuries. My practice is a constant search—whether it's the 15th-century poetry of Kanhopatra or the feminist Pāli verses of the Therigatha—to make those stories breathe on stage.