Chai with Rai (Ep.26). In conversation with Brinda Guha where we sat and discussed the lineage and history of Classical Indian Dance, from her journey of Kathak to Manipuri to Flamenco. We discussed Brinda's work, the codifying of Classical Dance, Culture Appropriation and her thoughts on Activism.
We had to rush this episode and fit a lot of topics in but I am grateful to have Brinda on here to share her perspective and educate on so many things. I hope you enjoy this Cuppa Filled episode.
A bit about Brinda:
Brinda is a Dancer, Actress, model, Choreographer, Curator (WiseFruit) and Artistic Director ( Kalamandir School of Dance) based in America. Her Background in Dance began from the North Indian Classical Dance style Kathak under the tutelage of her mother Smt. Malabika Guha. Alongside that Learning Flamenco from Dionisia Garcia of Flamenco NYC. She also studied other forms of Classical Indian dance, including Manipuri East Indian Classical dance from Smt. Kalavati Devi and her daughter, Bimbavati Devi.
Brinda currently dances with Soles of Duende, a multicultural percussive trio rooted in the rhythms of Tap (Amanda Castro), Flamenco (Arielle Rosales), and Kathak (Guha). She is also the artistic director of Kalamandir Dance Company, main faculty of Kalamandir School of Dance Inc., curator at Wise Fruit NYC, which has had over 10 showcases and raised money for Plant Parenthood and Action fund. And is also an administrator at Dance/NYC.
Her choreographic works have been showcased at Brooklyn Dance Festival, NYCDA Dance Festival, Young Choreographer's Festival, Broadway Dance Center Professional Semester Showcase, Gowanus Arts Center, Secret Theater, Dixon Place, Grounds for Sculpture, George St. Playhouse, NJ State Theater, Funktion Dance Complex, The Knockdown Center, Hammerstein Ballroom, Madison Square Garden, and much more. he has set work with Andy Blankenbuehler, Justin Conte, Phil Orsano, Derek Mitchell, Neil Schwartz, Ashle Dawson, Kumari Suraj, Lauren Cox, Carlos Neto, Omari Mizrahi, Myriam Gadri, Ginger Cox & Subhasis Das.
Brinda's acting credits include “Pagla Ghora”, directed by celebrated Bollywood filmmaker, Amol Palekar. She later debuted a lead role at the South Asian Theater Festival’s staging of “Red Oleanders” and “The Little Clay Cart” (2009, 2010). Brinda has performed in small theater productions since, including the lead in Gargi Mukherjee's "Our Voices", as well as in a segment directed by Subhasis Das for 2015's South Asian Theater Festival's Theater In Break installment of "Ami Chitragada", which ultimately traveled to five venues over the course of 2017.
To watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/d-xuQGS6_6E
Social: Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/ Guest: https://www.instagram.com/brindaguha/ & https://www.instagram.com/kalamandirdanceco/ & https://www.instagram.com/wisefruitnyc/
Links: Myself: https://linktr.ee/raimuitfum
Guest: https://www.brindaguha.com/
Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in.
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