Bharatanatyam Performances and Narrative Dance
A collection of my work, spanning traditional Bharatanatyam Margams to narrative-driven dance-theatre explorations of ancient poetry.
This is a moment of pure abandon from my performance "SARVASYA". For me, dance is a flight of the spirit, and this capture of an Eknath Abhanga at the Nirantaram Festival perfectly embodies that feeling of divinity on stage.
"Do his coral lips smell like the lotus flower, or the austere camphor? Do they taste sweet?" This is a glimpse into the Nachiyar Thirumozhi, where the poetry itself is a musical and lyrical delight. Exploring such profound yearning through abhinaya is a deeply personal process.
Taking Bharatanatyam beyond the traditional stage into the open air. This moment of abandon, performing an Abhanga from Marathi poetry in London, shows how art can connect with us anywhere, transforming a public square into a sacred space.
Embodying the "Mothe Bhoot" or the great ghost from my production 'VitthāMāi' was a thrilling choreographic challenge. I drew inspiration from folk traditions like Bhoota Kola and Theyyam to bring this powerful, otherworldly character to life.
The Varkari tradition brought devotion to the streets, and that's what we did in Hounslow. Performing a Vaari with my musical collaborator, we turned the high street into a 'Naamacha Bazaar', a market of divine names, making the art accessible to all.
Abhinaya, or expression, is the soul of my dance. This close-up from the Krishna Gana Sabha Pongal Dance Festival captures a fleeting moment of storytelling, a silent dialogue with the audience that I cherish in every performance.
A powerful stance from my performance at the Narada Gana Sabha. The stage is a space of immense learning and energy, and this image captures the strength and grace I aim to bring to every traditional Bharatanatyam piece.
About this collection
Whenever I perform, I try to bring the audience into the research process itself. I do not just dance the story; I share the context behind the poetry, explaining the history of these women poets before the first beat of the music begins. It makes the performance less of a spectacle and more of a shared, intimate experience between us.
My practice revolves around the intersection of ancient texts and modern movement. Whether I am exploring the resilient spirits of Buddhist nuns in my work 'Abandhana' or the devotional intensity of Varkari saints through Marathi poetry, the goal remains the same. I work closely with my musicians, treating the live ensemble as the heartbeat of the performance. We move beyond standard choreography to build pieces that feel responsive to the venue and the audience.
For those looking to collaborate, I offer a range of formats. This includes intimate chamber recitals designed for smaller spaces, as well as full-scale thematic productions complete with theatrical lighting and sound design. Every piece is rooted in deep study of original Pāli, Marathi, or Tamil texts, ensuring that the movement is as authentic as the stories being told. If you are interested in exploring specific themes for an event, or if you are looking for workshops on the creative process of Bharatanatyam, let's start a conversation about what we can build together.
Divya Ravi
I do not just perform; I search for stories that have been lost to time. My dance is an attempt to make forgotten voices heard again, whether through the poetry of 6th-century Buddhist nuns or the intensity of Marathi saints.
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