Caste dynamics in classical dance: History vs. Narratives | Aranyani Bhargav | TEDxDTU

NOTE FROM TED: It has been brought to the attention of Aranyani, the speaker in this video, that the term “devadasi” is now considered to be an inappropriate term for the Isai Vellalar community mentioned in the video. In light of this, she has requested that we add this disclaimer and inform viewers that the appropriate term is “hereditary courtesan dance communities“. She would also like to add that this was intended to be an introductory talk that only skims the surface of a deeply complex and sensitive history. For more on a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the history of the Isai Vellalar community, please refer to works by scholars such as Saskia Kersenboom, Amrit Srinivasan, Avanthi Meduri, Janet O’Shea, Anne Marie Gaston, Janaki Nair, and Davesh Soneji, among others. Finally, it is not the intention of Aranyani or TEDxDTU to hurt the sentiments of or spread misinformation about any community. Our intention is to encourage conversation and spread awareness about Bharatanatyam’s complex history and its culturally diverse practitioners through the course of this history.“ Acclaimed Dance choreographer and scholar Ms. Bhargav discusses how dance movements have been deeply affected by the societal dynamics of the relevant times. As a true reflection of the cultural atmosphere, dance not only pleased aesthetic sensibilities, but also served as a mirror to society. Aranyani Bhargav is a dancer, choreographer and Artistic Director of Vyuti Dance company, which does exploratory work in Bharatanatyam by incorporating modernity into tradition. She is the only classical dancer of her generation to experiment with Bharatanatyam through contact-based group work. Her work has been reviewed as “an astonishing product“ and an “organic conversation between tradition and modernity“. Aranyani has also been a proficient soloist for over 15 years and has performed throughout India and all over the world. Her distinctive approach to Bharatanatyam as being simultaneously ancient and modern, traditional and contemporary, spiritual and secular has made her popular amidst a wide range of Indian and international audiences. She is also deeply committed to an academic engagement with dance. In addition, Aranyani is a dance scholar, researcher and teacher. She has studied at Oxford University where she wrote a thesis on the multiple modernities of Bharatanatyam. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at