Dance to Inspire

My guest today is a unique combination of East and West, tradition and modernity. A Kuchipudi dancer and teacher from Hyderabad, India, she's also the founder of Kritya School of Dance. She expanded the boundaries of her artistic universe and now trains full time at the Martha Graham school in New York City. Her fiery passion, dedication and soul will surely inspire you. I'm absolutely delighted to have you join me in this conversation with Yamini Kalluri.

0:00 About our guest Yamini Kalluri

0:53 Exploring different dance forms and moving to NYC

3:55 Martha Graham technique

5:42 Learning ballet

8:50 Cross training

11:55 Dance as a career

14:34 Dance costumes

16:29 Why do you love dance?

17:09 Verse from Natyashastra

19:13 Role of a classical Indian dancer

Connect with Yamini Kalluri

Instagram @yaminikalluri

Yaminikalluri.com

https://www.youtube.com/c/YaminiKalluri98

Kritya School of Dance

Instagram @krityadance

Krityadance.com

Dance to Inspire Podcast

Podcast host Instagram @MimidiLuna

Website mimidiluna.wixsite.com/website

From the rangmanch (stage) to the recording studio, she performs and interprets a wide range of roles. With successful parallel careers in both Bharata Natyam (South Indian classical dance form) and voice acting-- she is the voice behind iconic characters including Minnie Mouse, Little Krishna, and Peppa Pig. I watched her video series, “Raaz Riyaaz Ka,” where she highlights classical dancers and their approach to riyaaz (practice or sadhana). I absolutely love this series and just had to meet her! So come join me for a conversation with a truly inspiring artist, Prachi Saathi.

0:00 About our guest Prachi Saathi

0:57 “Raaz Riyaaz ka” video series

2:51 Staying inspired to do riyaaz

5:53 Voice and presentation for dancers

8:02 Overcoming fears of public speaking

10:43 Getting into character

13:50 Favorite projects in voicing industry

15:38 Exploring wide range of roles

18:06 Dance and inspiration

Connect with Prachi Saathi

Instagram @prachi_saathi

Video Series “Raaz Riyaaz Ka” 

Voicing Reel 

Performance “Navarasa Mohana” 

Dance to Inspire Podcast

Instagram @dance.to.inspire

YouTube

Website

My guest today is a dedicated Kathak dancer and public policy researcher. She directed and toured a dance theater production called “Umeed: Colors of Hope” in cities around the world. In this episode, we speak about how her dance journey has brought her the 3 treasures of love, hope, and riyaaz. Riyaaz is an Urdu word, often translated as “practice.” In Indian classical dance, it’s the daily nurturing of one's art form, an ongoing journey where one discovers the gifts of dance.  It's with great joy to have this chat with the lovely and multi-talented Sunena Gupta.

0:00 About our guest Sunena Gupta

1:05 Riyaaz

5:26 Passion for both dance and social work

7:43 Choreographing on contemporary themes

9:30 Vulnerability when performing

11:19 Umeed (Hope)

18:39 Choreography process

23:42 Improvising on stage

24:32 Teaching Kathak

27:44 Advice to younger self

28:46 Most important thing learned from dance teacher

29:56 Why are you dedicated to dance?

31:39 Gratitude

33:12 Self-love

Connect with Sunena Gupta

Instagram @sunenagupta

Website sunenagupta.com

Dance to Inspire Podcast

Podcast host @MimidiLuna

Website mimidiluna.wixsite.com/website

My guest today is a lively and daring ballerina. We first crossed paths in New York City where we both studied ballet under the legendary Gelsey Kirkland. I was training full time as an Academy student and she was performing with the Gelsey Kirkland Ballet company. Today, she calls Paris her home and has established her performing career touring with numerous french ballet companies. She is both a student and teacher of the Boris Kniaseff floor barre method, a sequence of exercises where ballet movements have been adapted to be practiced lying on the floor. Her journey from NYC to Paris is as unique as her name, India Rose. I’m delighted to have her as the first guest on the Dance to Inspire Podcast.

0:00 About our guest India Rose

0:53 Getting coached by Gelsey Kirkland

2:52 Moving from NYC to Paris

5:10 Cross training methods

7:50 Teaching floor barre

14:19 New way of approaching ballet technique

17:54 Body image

21:39 Dance injury prevention

24:14 French aesthetic of ballet

26:39 Performing in France

29:18 Advice to aspiring dancers

31:21 Top 3 must visit places in NYC and Paris

Connect with India Rose

Instagram @indiamrose

Website momentarylocal.com

Dance to Inspire Podcast

Podcast host @MimidiLuna

Website mimidiluna.wixsite.com/website