I am a trained Bharata Natyam dancer. In the past I have undergone an extensive training in Oriental and Indian Dance (Classical, modern, as well as experimental) and I am performing in Germany and India as a member of different dance ensembles and as a solo dancer. The cooperation with other dancers, artists and live musicians are of special importance to me, as well as experimental and contemporary realization of Indian dance performances. Furthermore I have a broad theoretical knowledge on Indian Art in general, as well as Indian dance forms in particular, since I finished my MA-course in Asian and Islamic Art History at the University of Bonn with a thesis on dance sculptures of the Cōḷa-dynasty.
Currently I am working as research associate and lecturer (Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin) at the department for Asian and Oriental art history at the University of Bonn and researching on my doctoral topic, the relationship between dance and visual arts in South Asia. Bharata Natyam is the most popular of the eight classical dances of India, which has gained its present form mainly during the so-called „revival“ throughout the middle of the 20th century. Other spellings, as Bharatanatyam or Bharatnayam are also found in literature.
Indian dances are traditionally divided into three different types: Folk dance, ritual dance andclassical dance. Each type is further subdivided into many different styles. There are eight recognized classical dance forms in India: Bharata Natyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi,Manipuri, Odissi, Sattriya and Mohiniyattam. While some of these dance forms are mainly of regional importance, especially Bharata Natyam has become popular all over India and worldwide.
