S3 Ep 23 - Antara Bhardwaj - Kathak Artist & Filmmaker

Antara Bhardwaj @antaraasthaayi began her study of kathak at the age of nine with legendary Kathak maestro Pandit Chitresh Das. Her panache and magnetism have dazzled audiences throughout the U.S. and India, including a nationally televised performance in India, and lecture demonstration "Dancing Mathematics" - highlighting the complex mathematics in the Hindustani music system. She identifies herself as a story-teller - her mediums being kathak, film, and writing. In 2014, her production "Upaj:Improvise", a dance documentary film was broadcast nationally on PBS, and is currently available on Amazon. In 2016, she established her own dance company and school “Antara Asthaayi Dance.” In 2019, Bhardwaj was Honored as a Mosaic Silicon Valley Fellow for commitment to artistic excellence and strengthening community through multicultural arts. Antara continues to produce short dance films, develops her mastery of taal (rhythm) under the mentorship of Sandeep Das (a Grammy-award winning artist with whom she regularly performs and tours), and mentors twenty-five young girls in the art form of kathak.