12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
200 Kaufman Hall

Kalavantula Lifeworlds: Dance, Social History, Identity

Dr. Yashoda Thakore

and

Prof. Davesh Soneji

This talk focuses on the intertwined worlds of social history and dance performance in the Telugu-speaking kalāvantula-courtesan community of coastal Andhra Pradesh. The presentation features commentary on archival textual and ethnographic material about the community, and also the live performance of courtly dance and music repertoire by Dr. Yashoda Thakore, herself a member of this community, and a descendent of the celebrated nineteenth-century dancers Madhuram and Picchayi of the East Godavari region.

Sponsor(s): Ethnomusicology, World Arts & Cultures/Dance