On Saturday, May 2, 2026 six premier Bharata Natyam artists and teachers will present Dance Conversations – Five Decades. One Living Tradition, an afternoon of “solo performances, personal reflection, and conversation”. All forms of dance are past down in classes and private coaching by master teachers. Each of these Indian artists trained extensively in India before moving to the United States, introducing Bharata Natyam dance to inspiring students who, for generations, became part of this living practice. Dance Conversations – Five Decades. One Living Tradition will take place in the Clarence Nedom Auditorium at the Lakeview Senior Center in Irvine, CA. Tickets are on sale now.
These amazing women who are taking part in this rare event are: Katherine Kunhiraman who teaches Kalanjali Dances of India in Berkeley, California; Rathna Kumar of the Anjali Center for Performing Arts in Houston, Texas; Viji Prakash, Founder, Artistic Director and Choreographer of the Shakti Dance Company in Los Angeles, California; Ramya Harishankar, the Artistic Director of Arpana Dance Company in Irvine, California; Mythili Kumar, Artistic Director of the Abhinaya Dance Company in San Jose, California; and Hema Rajagopalan, Founder and Artistic Director of the Natya Dance Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
I have had the honor of knowing Ramya Harishankar and to learn more, I sent her a few questions asking how this unique gathering of Bharata Natyam leaders came to be.
Ramya Harishankar – Photo courtesy of the artist
LADC: How did this event come about or whose idea was it?
Harishankar: After presenting Indian dance in Southern California since 1989, I noticed both the challenges that came with sustaining such programs and the need to re-energize them. That led me to start rethinking my approach – focusing on more creative programming to reconnect with audiences.
At the same time, my deep personal connections with these artists – many of whom I’ve known since my childhood – gave the project a more meaningful dimension. When some of them were celebrating their golden jubilee, that milestone became the perfect opportunity. I felt that their journey wasn’t just worth celebrating, but also worth preserving. It wasn’t a single spontaneous idea but a natural evolution of the work, relationships, and timing coming together.
Hema Rajagopalan – Photo courtesy of the artist.
LADC: This is such an important gathering of artists. Has it ever happened before? If so, where? This gathering is truly unprecedented.
Harishankar: This gathering is truly unprecedented. It has never happened before in this form. While there are a few other artists who began teaching in the 1970s, this group was intentionally chosen because of their sustained involvement and continued influence in the Bharata Natyam community.
Unlike others who have since retired or stepped away from active engagement, these five artists remain deeply connected to the field—as teachers, mentors, and cultural contributors. Bringing them together highlights not just their individual legacies, but their ongoing impact on the evolution and continuity of the art form.
Katherine Kunhiraman – Photo courtesy of the artist.
LADC: These artists have both national and international recognition, and they live in several different cities. Was it difficult to arrange?
Harishankar: Each of them has an extensive and distinguished body of work, and what made the difference was their shared enthusiasm for the idea. They were genuinely excited to be part of this conversation and to contribute to a meaningful reflection on their collective journey. That willingness and sense of purpose made coordinating schedules and arrangements far less difficult than one might expect.
LADC: In many ways, their eagerness speaks to the importance of the gathering itself, it’s a rare opportunity they clearly value being part of.
Harishankar: Their enthusiasm really underscores just how meaningful this gathering is, not only as a moment of reunion, but as a contribution to history. By documenting their voices, experiences, and perspectives, I hope to create a valuable cultural archive that can serve students, scholars, and future generations of artists. Preserving these lived histories ensures that their journeys and the evolution of the form through their work remain accessible and influential well beyond the event itself.
Mythili Kumar – Photo courtesy of the artist.
LADC: Will viewers see different styles of Bharata Natyam dance?
Harishankar: Viewers will certainly gain insight into the diversity within Bharata Natyam, though perhaps in a more nuanced and intimate way than a full performance. Storytelling is at the heart of this classical form, and each artist brings a distinct stylistic interpretation shaped by their training and experience. While audiences may not see extended, high-energy dance sequences, they will experience the richness of different styles through focused demonstrations. As senior artists, the emphasis will be on abhinaya, the expressive aspect of the dance where gesture, facial expression, and emotional depth take center stage. Through selected pieces from the repertoire, each artist will illustrate how they interpret and embody narrative within their own tradition. Viewers can expect something deeper: a rare opportunity to witness how storytelling, individuality, and lineage come alive through abhinaya across different styles.
Rathna Kumar – Photo by Avinash Pasrecha.
LADC: Do all these artist use this spelling of Bharata Natyam or do some prefer Bharatanatyam?
Harishankar: Perhaps I am the only one that has chosen to split the word as it is easier to read. It is a compound word – Bharata + Natyam.
Viji Prakash – Photo courtesy of the artist.
LADC: What would you like our readers that might not be as familiar with Bharat Natyam to know about and perhaps look for during the performance of Dance Conversations?
Harishankar: For readers who may be new to Bharata Natyam, Dance Conversations will offer a wonderful entry point into the form because it will emphasize its most human and relatable element: storytelling. At its core, Bharata Natyam is not just about movement, but about communication. In this program, the focus on abhinaya means audiences will be able to clearly see how a story unfolds without needing prior knowledge of the technique or language. Even a small glance or gesture can carry deep significance. It may also help to notice that each artist brings a slightly different style or interpretation, shaped by their training and artistic journey. These differences are part of what makes the experience so rich.
For me, this is a moment to acknowledge, document, and celebrate the form, as well as the artists who have contributed so much to Bharata Natyam, to their communities, and to the cultural fabric of the cities they call home. It is both a recognition of their legacy and an effort to preserve it for future generations.
WHAT: Dance Conversations – Five Decades. One Living Tradition
WHERE: Clarence Nedom Auditorium at the Lakeview Senior Center
WHEN: Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 5pm. A pre-event Reception is at 4pm.
TICKETS: $50. If you purchase 2 tickets there is $20 off the second ticket with Promo Code “bogo10”. Purchase tickets by clicking HERE.
Box Office Contact (949) 874-3662
Dance Conversations – Five Decades. One Living Tradition is presented by the Ektaa Center.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Ramya Harishankar in “Bhumika” – Photo by Prasad Photography.
