
Finding Joy

​"Finding Joy" is an ensemble work that celebrates the beauty of everyday life, sharing individual experiences of navigating the modern world.
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This work brings contemporary relevance to Bharatanatyam practice and presentation. Through themes of love, nostalgia, community, and art that bring joy amid the constant pressure of a competitive world, the performance becomes a mirror through which the audience may see parallels with their own lives and experiences.
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What began in 2023 as an exploration where students were encouraged to incorporate their experiences into the work, creating a safe space for sharing perspectives and dismantling hierarchical structures, has now expanded into a full-length production. This evolution features professional artists from the Bay Area, San Diego, New York, and India, who have been breaking barriers to enrich the concept.
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"Finding Joy" transcends boundaries of faith, focusing on the human emotions that connect us all, bridging the gap between the art, the artist, and the audience.
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Credits:
Director | Choreographer: Surabhi Bharadwaj
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A portion of music created for "Ashrutam - The Unheard Voice" by Rohith Bhat & Sharat R Prabath is used in "Finding Joy"
Music Directors:
Maya Rau-Murthy (Konakol)
Vishnu R (Navtar)
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Musical Collaborator: Conal Sathi (Keyboard)
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Sound Engineers: Shadrach Solomon, Neil Godbole, & Ashwin Prabath
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Poem: Deepika Potdar Panchamukhi
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Scenery/Prop Designer: Subhashinee Krishnamurthy
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Movement Collaborators | Performers:
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Akshaya Arunkumar
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Anusha Sreenivasan
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Radhika Karandikar
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Shruthi Aravindan
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Sukanya Kumar
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Surabhi Bharadwaj
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Surya Ravi
Cameo:
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Kruthika Sarthavally
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Mihika Rao
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Nikitha Shashidhar
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"Finding Joy"was premiered as part of Two Folds on September 20-22, 2024 at ODC Theater, San Francisco.