Rachana Joshi of Kala Dance Collective, on blossoming together

At Kala Dance Collective, our roots run deep in the tradition of bharatanatyam, the very seed that ignited our friendship, sisterhood and passion for dance as a collective. For over 15 years, we have trained together at Sampradaya Dance Academy, nurturing our growth as individual dancers while blossoming alongside each other. Despite bharatanatyam being a traditionally solo form, we exclusively performed as an ensemble at the academy, finding immense joy and fulfillment in navigating intricate rhythms, formations and narratives together. As we flourished into bharatanatyam artists, we recognized the unique synergy cultivated among us and knew it must remain central to our work. Driven by a desire to share stories resonant with our diasporic experience, celebrate our shared heritage and showcase the diversity of South Asian culture, we delve into tradition as fertile soil for exploration. We seek contemporary approaches to our rich technique while maintaining the form’s integrity. Our bharatanatyam journeys deeply influence our Indo-Canadian identities, prompting reflection on our place in an ever-evolving and diverse contemporary arts landscape. What excites us most is the opportunity to create a vibrant, inclusive space for South Asian diasporic bodies to express themselves through dance.

Kala Dance Collective are diasporic artists who create work that is rooted in their training of bharatanatyam.