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Radha Varadan

@radha.varadan

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DC • NC • 📍BLR
Ballet-trained-postmodern-classical-Kathak-artist
Creator of @anatomybasedclassicaldance
@gwuctad alum | @fulbrightindia
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It is with profound joy that I present this little piece of my heart to you all: this short film, titled “Good Pain,” that is the introduction to my body of research. And with that, I also announce with profound joy and gratitude that I am the recipient of the Fulbright Nehru Research Fellowship in the category of Classical Indian Dance— specifically, this project, “Anatomy-Based Classical Dance.” My research examines the Classical Indian dance form from a scientific perspective. Pain is an inevitable part of a physically demanding discipline. But pain doesn’t have to be a constant companion. Little medical research exists on the anatomy of the Indian dance form or the common mechanisms of injury. If you’re a practitioner reading this, I’m sure you’ve felt the frustration of a professional who didn’t understand; who told you that your only option was to stop. This research is a step towards empowerment; towards helping dancers understand their bodies. And NOW: the people I have to thank! First and foremost— the brilliant, endlessly kind luminaries of Indian Classical dance who inspired me to chase this dream relentlessly— my gurus, Smt. Nirupama and Sri TD Rajendra @nirupama_rajendra . They are the definition of what it means to project forward while remaining firmly rooted in tradition. I am so proud to bring this honor to them, and to the institution that they have built @abhinavadanceschool — which is so deeply dedicated to the pursuit of excellence. To the BRILLIANT artist who captured my vision through his lens: dearest Palani Mohan uncle. @nrityachhavi . What an immense privilege to work with you, to have your support for my wild ideas! I am so honored to know you, to work with you— what a blessing. And to my wonderful family, who loved me through every moment of self doubt. To my steadfast, darling friends who believed in me before I did! How endlessly grateful I am for you. To my friends here on this app, who comment and like and share: thank you, from the bottom of my soul. How deeply, endlessly grateful I am for you. Welcome to ABCD. {Music by J. Easton} • • #kathak #bharatanatyam #indiandancerscommunity #injuryprevention #injurypreventionfordancers by @radha.varadan
21
9 months ago
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Kitri, the famous character from the ballet Don Quixote, reimagined through the Kathak style— featuring the great Marianela Nuñez! My two decades of studying ballet and modern dance have vastly informed my art and aspirations as a Kathak dancer. This bit of choreography is a little experiment in bridging the two worlds. There are so many similarities— and yet, so many differences! • • • • • #indiandancerscommunity #dancer #indiandancer #dancersofinstagram #kathak #kathakdance #chakaar #fouette #donquixote #kitri #kitrivariation #kathaklovers #kathakdancersofindia by @radha.varadan
626
2 years ago
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@radha.varadan’s ingenious reimaginings of some of ballet’s most famous variations using kathak, a form of Indian classical dance, have earned her serious traction online. Based in India and the U.S., Varadan trained in both ballet and kathak growing up. She later studied postmodern dance (and molecular biology) at @gwuniversity, and today she dances with the Abhinava Dance Company in Bengaluru, India. Varadan took a moment to talk about her viral hybrid videos (such as the one shared here), her creative process, and how Indian classical dance is perceived in the West. Read the interview at the link in our bio! 🧡 🎥: Varadan‘s reimagined Kitri Act 1 variation from “Don Quixote,” with @marianelanunezofficial in the top left for comparison. Video provided courtesy of Varadan and reposted with permission. 📸: Radha Varadan. Photo by PTM Photography, courtesy Varadan. 📝: @sarah.mckenna.barry #RadhaVaradan #Kitri #kathak #ballet Description: Radha Varadan dances outside, performing her kathak interpretation of the Kitri Act 1 variation. She jumps, transfers her weight side to side, and turns, using a fan in one hand. by @radha.varadan
30
2 years ago
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TOMORROW, October 3rd at 7 PM, at the gorgeous Manhattan Movement & Arts Centre brings us the 2026 New York International Dance Festival!!! 🗽🌃 I’m so excited to be performing some very exciting pieces alongside the best of the best artists that NYC has to offer. Do not miss your chance to see the diverse world of cultural dance, right in the heart of Manhattan!!! Tickets available at @manhattanmovementandartscenter for the @nyintdancefestival (link in bio) NOW • • • • #indiandancerscommunity #classicaldance #newyorkevents #kathakdance #radhavaradan by @radha.varadan
6
13 days ago
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I think if every Kathak dancer had a dime for how many times people asked us how we don’t get dizzy… we would be very well off…….. • • • #kathak #indiandancerscommunity #radhavaradan #funnyreel #chakaar by @radha.varadan
29
14 days ago
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Kathak solo, by @radha.varadan on Day 2 of the Erasing Borders Dance Festival featured an evocative exploration of inner landscapes through precise footwork and nuanced storytelling. With a seamless blend of classical clarity and profound aesthetic devotion, her performance captivated audiences, embodying the timeless power of Indian classical dance. Video credits: @_kaulphotography #IAAC #EBDF #dancefestival #dance #Kathak #performance by @radha.varadan
8
24 days ago
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We are honored that exquisite and world-renowned Kathak dancer, Radha Varadan, will be performing a unique piece that combines traditional Kathak and the beloved Dying Swan ballet variation at our festival on Saturday, Oct. 3rd at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center on W. 60th St. starting at 7pm. Ticket link in bio! Use code NYIDF for 15% off through 9/18. by @radha.varadan
2
a month ago
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A Tarana is supposed to be pure rhythm. No story, no emotion, just syllables and speed. Radha Varadan (@radha.varadan) breaks the rule anyway, threading a love story into every beat. Trained in both ballet and Kathak, and a Fulbright Nehru awardee, she moves between two worlds most dancers never combine. Rhythm, with a heart hidden inside it. Catch her at the Erasing Borders Dance Festival 2026. Day 2 | Sunday, Sept 20, 2026 | 6 PM The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College,NYC Tickets from $20 Link in bio. #IAAC #EBDF2026 #RadhaVaradan #Kathak #IndianDance by @radha.varadan
2
a month ago
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Friends in and around NYC, there’s less than a month to go before this years highly-anticipated edition of the Erasing Borders Dance Festival! It’s an immense honor, especially as a young and emerging artist, to be included among celebrated maestros and doyens of Indian Classical Dance. Come join IAAC’s mission to preserve, promote, and further the traditional Indian Arts, while witnessing this festival that promises an absolute feast for the senses and the soul! @iaac.us September 19th and 20th, 6–8 PM Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, NYC • • • • #erasingbordersfestival #kathak #indiandancerscommunity #bharatanatyam #indianclassicaldance by @radha.varadan
6
2 months ago
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The different hues of a conversation with Krishna, seen through Radha’s (Krishna’s beloved… and myself!) reaction. This is what sets the Indian Classical dance arts apart from any other movement genre: we converse with the divine, and every limb— the eyes, eyebrows, lips, arms, palms, thighs— becomes a vehicle to tell a story. I see him in his human form, so close as if I could touch him… Krishna— a metaphor for the universe, the divine, the higher power— is everywhere. Do you see him in my eyes? Here, I speak to him…. • Photos captured by the incomparable, exquisitely talented @vachana_dev from a recent concert presented by Abhinava Arts Centre. Abhinava is one of India’s foremost production houses, one of the nation’s leading dance companies, and a top tier training institute. • • • • #indianclassicaldance #abhinaya #radhekrishna #kathak #dancephotography I gaze into his face, enamored… enthralled… completely lost in his beauty; lost in the universe he holds within his eyes. I fall at his feet, overwhelmed by emotions. What else can I do but surrender all I am? I gaze in delight and surprise as he takes my chin towards his own… …a feeling that traverses oceans of shyness, coyness, sweetness. I would hide my face from you with my veil, but I cannot. I remain yours, Krishna. What else is there in my life to be? by @radha.varadan
5
2 months ago
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Poorna Natarajasana clicked while standing next to the Master of Yoga, Lord Nataraja. Patanjali has written that any asana should be done with ease and comfort by the practitioner… I think most of us would agree that extreme deep backbends do not always occur with ease and comfort 😀 But inspired by the sheer size of Adiyogi, the atmosphere of divinity and absolute faith, I swung my leg up into Poorna Natarajasana without a physical warmup of any kind. This could not have happened normally— certainly not without an aching back! But perhaps it was the presence of so many devotees, the smell of camphor, or the Lord of Yoga himself… I felt the true meaning of “Sthiram Sukham Asanam.” The joy that came from the stillness of putting my body and mind into a shape, and doing so at the feet of Shiva. What a privilege it is to be a yoga practitioner (and the cool photos you get along the way are a perk 🙃) Thank you @savya_ks for the pic! • • • • #yogaposes #natarajasana #indianyoga #radhavaradan taken in Adiyogi Statue Chikkaballapur by @radha.varadan
14
2 months ago
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Putting the spotlight on Radha Varadan (@radha.varadan), performing on Day 2, September 20, at the Erasing Borders Dance Festival 2026. Radha Varadan's practice brings together the precision of Kathak with influences from ballet and modern dance, creating a space where classical vocabulary can take new forms. The Erasing Borders Dance Festival brings together some of the finest artists performing Indian dance forms from around the world over two days in New York City. September 19–20 The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, NYC Book your tickets, Link in bio. #EBDF2026 #RadhaVaradan #Kathak #IndianClassicalDance #ContemporaryDance by @radha.varadan
0
2 months ago
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