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Aparna Sindhoor

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Aparna Sindhoor
Born
NationalityIndian-American
EducationBoston University
Mysore University
Occupations

Aparna Sindhoor (born 1970/1971) is a choreographer, dancer, and teacher from Mysore, India.[1][2][3][4] She is the artistic director of Navarasa Natyalaya Dance Theater.

Education

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Sindhoor began dancing at the age of five, first learning from her mother.[4] She trained in Bharatanatyam for approximately 15 years with K. Venkatalakshamma, who emphasizes Abhinaya (facial expression) and Jathis (pure dance compositions).[3][5] She also studied singing and theatre.[6]

She holds a master's degree in English and a bachelor's degree in dance, literature, and dramatics. She received her doctorate in "Dance, Women and Culture" from Boston University.[5][3]

Career and awards

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Sindhoor has given professional performances since her arangetram (graduation solo recital) in 1989.

Sindhoor founded the Navarasa Dance Theatre Sindhoor in Mysore, India, in 1991 with her husband, film director SM Raju, and fellow choreographer Anil Natyaveda.[6] She moved to the United States in 1997/1998.[4] After moving, the theatre was based in Boston, Massachusetts.[6][7] In 2012, Sindhoor developed Encounter, a dance-theatre performance based on a short story by Mahasweta Devi for Navarasa.[7]

In 2013, Sindhoor choreographed "Visions of an Ancient Dreamer" for Brandeis theatre students.[8]

Sindhoor's works have been showcased in the US, Canada, Germany, and India, including venues and festivals such as the Jacob's Pillow, Lincoln Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, La Mama, and New Haven Festival of Arts and Ideas. She was one of the choreographers selected for the New England Foundation for the Arts's RDDI program. Sindhoor's choreography was included in Boston-based Underground Railway Theater's "A Disappearing Number" in 2014.[9]

In 2022, she choreographed EnActe Art's "The Jungle Book: Rudyard Revised" in Palo Alto, California.[10][11]

She is a part-time faculty member at Santa Monica College.[12]

Awards

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Sindhoor earned a Gold Medal in Dance from Mysore University.[12]

In 2013, Sindhoor received the NPN Creation Funds Award for My Dear Muddu Palani.[12][13] In the same year, she was also nominated for Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award for Choreography.[12]

In 2020, Sindhoor received $1,000 from the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund to create a digital piece of art to encourage voter turnout.[14]

Dance theatre works

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  • River Rites (2001)[15]
  • A Story and A Song (2007)[16]
  • Encounter (2012)
  • Snake and Ladder (2017)[17][18]
  • The Vote Dance (2020)[14]
  • The Naked Line (2021)[19]
  • Plantation Talas
  • Refugee Ragas
  • The Hunt

References

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  1. ^ "Contemporary STEPS". The Hindu. 5 January 2004. Archived from the original on 30 April 2004. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  2. ^ "Body And Soul". The Hindu. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Lutz, Ryan (14 August 2018). "Resident Artist Aparna Sindhoor Wants You to Fall in Love with Dance". www.santamonica.gov. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Craig, David J (26 March 2004). "A woman's movement: UNI student brings progressive politics and emotional grit to Indian dance". B.U. Bridge. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Aparna Sindhoor". Central Square Theater. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Smith, Janet (11 October 2017). "Navarasa Dance Theater's Encounter focuses ancient arts on modern violence". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b "East West Players Encounters Navarasa Dance Theater". At This Stage. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  8. ^ "'Visions of an Ancient Dreamer' is a pairing of Greek tragedies". BrandeisNOW. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  9. ^ Clay, Carolyn (5 November 2014). "'A Disappearing Number': A Mathematical Path To The Hereafter?". WBUR. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  10. ^ Gilbert, Andrew (28 September 2022). "'Jungle Book' gets a 21st-century reboot in Palo Alto by EnActe Arts". The Mercury News. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  11. ^ Zimmerman, Heather (29 September 2022). "'The Jungle Book' gets a thoughtful update". Mountain View Voice. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d "Aparna Sindhoor". www.smc.edu. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  13. ^ "National Performance Network | Visual Artists Network" (PDF).
  14. ^ a b Trinh, Chelsea (19 October 2020). "AAPI Artists Hope Their Creations Spur Voter Turnout Through #VotingTogether Campaign". AAPI Civic Engagement Fund. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  15. ^ Jain, Tarun (November 2001). "India Together: River rites - the Aparna Sindhoor concert - November 2001". indiatogether.org. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  16. ^ Campbell, Karen (23 July 2007). "In Indian dance, fanciful folk tales and tantalizing aerial feats". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Navarasa Dance Theater: Snake and Ladder". Wellesley College. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  18. ^ "A game of 'Snake and Ladder' in Broadway-style". The New Indian Express. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  19. ^ "South Asian Theater Festival To Take Place December 11-12". NewJerseyStage.com. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
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