Brinda Guha

Brinda Guha studied Indian Classical Kathak dance for over 20 years with Kalamandir of NJ from her mother, Smt. Malabika Guha. She has been invited to perform solo throughout the US and has done solo and group performances in England and India. She has been in a number of dance dramas produced by Malabika Guha and in 2005 wrote and directed her own dance production entitled RISE, based on the poems of Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes.

Brinda also performed in Badal Sircar’s Pagla Ghora, directed by celebrated filmmaker, Amol Palekar, and debuted in theater at The South Asian Theater Festival’s staging of Red Oleanders and The Little Clay Cart (2009, 2010). She recently co-directed and choreographed a feature-length theater dance production for the 10th Annual South Asian Theater Festival. She also choreographed and conceptualized the closing ceremony at the North American Bengali Conference 2016 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. Artistic choreography and teaching collaborations include working with Malabika Guha, Phil Orsano, Justin Conte, Derek Mitchell, Ashlé Dawson, Kumari Suraj, Lauren Cox/Humans Collective, Carlos Neto, INNO'vation Artists/Myriam Gadri, Subhasis Das, Gowanus Arts Center, FUNKtion Dance Complex, and House of Duende.

Brinda has also learned classical Manipuri dance in Kolkata, India from Guru Kalavati Devi. Since 2007, she has studied Flamenco in NYC under Dionisia Garcia, and also began her Contemporary training under renowned teachers and choreographers at Broadway Dance Center. Starting early 2014, she began leading the New York City branch of Kalamandir Dance Company (KDC). They have performed at Gowanus Arts Center, Broadway Dance Center, Actor’s Fund Arts Center, Secret Theater, Brooklyn Dance Festival, NYCDA Dance Festival, Symphony Space, Highline Ballroom, Madison Square Garden, Hammerstein Ballroom, and more.

For ten years, Brinda trained in Classical Piano with Richard Hendrickson, and completed a double major in Music and Mathematics at New York University. She was previously the Educational Programs Coordinator at Broadway Dance Center, and has taught as guest faculty at BDC. She is also represented by Ramona’s Model & Talent, a commercial print modeling agency based in the Greater NYC area. As co-founder of KDC, she feels that this time of leadership and growth is a means to learn more about herself as a person, performer, and eternal student of the arts.

CLASS DESCRIPTION

The core of the Contemporary Indian style lies in the fusion of the intricacies of classical Indian dance: footwork, expression, and hand movements, with targeted exercises to provide for a fulfilling and fresh contemporary dance routine at the end of every class.

This class attempts to investigate the communicative potential when merging western dance traditions with a classical Indian foundation. It starts with a vigorous yet meditative warm-up, and proceeds to elaborate on Indian classical and contemporary technique. This leads to a dynamic movement language and exchange, and leaves the dancer with a clear understanding of the relevance and importance of Indian aesthetic in the performing arts.

Students are able to not only learn the rudimentary fundamentals of classical Indian dance but also are able to experience a completely different approach to contemporary movement using elements of the ancient Indian aesthetic.