Meet our panelists and respondents for Day 1 of THE BODY IS POETRY!
After a short presentation on “Bhakti Poetry and the Body” by Nikhil Mandalaparthy (curator of Voices of Bhakti), we will have a virtual panel discussion on Zoom, on the theme of “Exploring South Asian Devotional Poetry.”
We’ll hear from some brilliant artists who have engaged with South Asian devotional poetry in different ways: Zain Bandali, Dr. Rajiv Mohabir, and Shruthi Veena Vishwanath.
And afterwards, three amazing Bay Area-based dancers will serve as respondents, sharing their reflections on the conversation!
Registration Link (link in bio): tinyurl.com/may16poetry
We’re excited to announce THE BODY IS POETRY: a weekend for practitioners of South Asian art forms to explore questions related to poetry, politics, religion, and the body.
Join us on Day 1 (May 16, 2026) for a virtual gathering where we will explore the diversity of South Asian devotional poetry and hear from artists who have engaged with this literature in different ways.
And if you’re based in the San Francisco Bay Area, join us on Day 2 (May 17, 2026) for an in-person workshop in which we will explore the connections between art, poetry, politics, caste, and the body – using Telugu padams and javalis as a case study.
This series of events is being organized by Dr. Preethi Ramaprasad and Nikhil Mandalaparthy as part of the 2026 Community Engagement Residency hosted by Bridge Live Arts, a Bay Area-based organization creating and supporting equity-driven live art that centers artists as agents of change.
Day 1 (May 16) Registration Link: tinyurl.com/may16poetry
Day 2 (May 17) Registration Link: tinyurl.com/may17poetry
Questions? Email [email protected]
Meet our panelists for Day 2 of THE BODY IS POETRY!
This will be an in-person workshop in San Francisco in which we will explore the connections between art, poetry, politics, caste, and the body – using Telugu padams and javalis as a case study. Our speakers will be Dr. Harshita Mruthinti Kamath and Dr. Yashoda Thakore (virtual), with Dr. Preethi Ramaprasad serving as facilitator.
This workshop is open to all. We especially encourage musicians and dancers who perform padams and javalis, as well as practitioners of other South Asian art forms who work with poetry and other textual sources. Familiarity with Telugu, padams, or javalis is not required!
Registration Link (link in bio): tinyurl.com/may17poetry
Moving through life together makes everything lighter :)
I’ve always found that movement is a universal language. We all carry similar emotions and sometimes, experiences. For me, dance has been the ultimate tool to pause, reflect, and heal. It’s been a way to process everything we go through.
I’m so excited to share this practice & the love for this art form alongside my dear friend @preethstergram .
We’re hoping to create a space for anyone interested to express, and experience these emotions together.
Whether you’re a dancer or have never tried it before, we’d love to see you there. 💛
📍 Parkside Branch Library, San Francisco
🗓️ Saturday, May 2 | 10:30 AM
🎟️ Free & Drop-in
#dance #workshop #sfevents #storytelling #choreography
🗣️ Join us Sunday, May 31st in San Francisco!
What can a varnam be? It can show love and devotion; it can be a carnatic opening piece and a memorable pallavi; something to explore on a solo journey or with fellow artists.
We are thrilled to feature a lineup that represents such a beautiful range of voices and movement! This year’s Varnam Salon is a partnership with Young Arts - we hope you can join us!
✨Presenting our 2026 Artists ✨
💃🏽 Sunidhi Gurudutt
💃🏽 Swathi Ramesh
👯♀️ Ishami Dance Company ft. choreography by Akhil Joondeph
🎶 Roopa Mahadevan
🗓 Sunday, May 31 | 11 AM
📍 Studio 210
3435 Cesar Chavez St #210
San Francisco, CA
🎟 Secure your tickets now! Link in bio.
YoungArts Alumni are welcome to attend this event free of charge- we are excited to be in community with you!
Co-founded by @navadancesf , @shruti_abhishek , and @preethstergram
This iteration is a partnership with @youngarts ✨💃🏽🙏
#varnam #indiandance #carnaticmusic
🗣️ Performer announcement!!
What can a varnam be? It can show love and devotion; it can be a carnatic opening piece and a memorable pallavi; something to explore on a solo journey or with fellow artists.
We are thrilled to feature a lineup that represents such a beautiful range of voices and movement! This year’s Varnam Salon is a partnership with Young Arts - we hope you can join us!
✨Presenting our 2026 Artists ✨
💃🏽 Sunidhi Gurudutt
💃🏽 Swathi Ramesh
👯♀️ Ishami Dance Company ft. choreography by Akhil Joondeph
🎶 Roopa Mahadevan
🗓 Sunday, May 31 | 11 AM
📍 Studio 210
3435 Cesar Chavez St #210
San Francisco, CA
🎟 Secure your tickets now! Link in bio.
Co-founded by @navadancesf , @shruti_abhishek , and @preethstergram
#varnam #indiandance #carnaticmusic
Good people will always prevail, and @moamer you are of the best of us.
Have been moved by the brilliance of this human’s storytelling abilities on screen, and now at his live show. Laughing, learning and crying have equal presence when taking in his talents.
Meeting him in person confirmed his heart, compassion and conviction. A core memory to say the least.
Planning for Hope in the Tenderloin as we do a site visit for 2027–on the roof with Katie Conry of the @tenderloinmuseum , @preethstergram , Jo Kreiter, and Xiomara Forbez.
#FlyawayProductions #AerialDance #ArtAsActivism #PublicArt #SiteVisit
In March I played, went back to Riverside and hung out with the oranges and my favorite professors from grad school, performed with friends @navadancesf and saw more friends, ate the best cookie in Austin, practiced with my teacher in India @priyecharusheele and collapsed on my bed, and saw the Yankees in SF. There's always chaat in my life!
Save the date for Varnam Salon 2026!
May 31 @ 11 am
San Francisco, California
Venue announcement coming soon! We also have a very special partner that we are excited to share with you!
Applications open on Monday! 🥳
We started this initiative 8 years ago and have loved seeing Varnam Salons popping up all over the world ever since. We are so excited to bring it back in person in the Bay Area this year! We know you’ll love what we have in store for May 31 - save the date!
❤️
Nadhi, Preethi, Shruti
#varnamisbae
