Episode 6: Performers and Teachers of Bharatanatyam

Covid Conversations Episode 6 features two dancers and teachers of Bharatanatyam which is one of India’s oldest classical dance traditions. Smitha Magal is a senior disciple of Professor Sudharani Raghupathy and, after some years teaching in her native India, formed her own dance school SILAMBAM in 1992 after moving to Dublin, Ohio. Smitha is originally from Chennai in India which is the home of the other guest in this podcast, Priya Murle. Like Smitha, Priya is also senior disciple of Professor Ragupathy – in fact, the two guests studied together and are long-time friends and colleagues. Priya was a senior teacher at Shree Bharatalaya, prior to founding her Shri Silambam Academy of Fine Arts in 2012 in Chennai. Covid Conversations is funded by an OSU Global Arts and Humanities Discovery Theme grant. It is produced and presented by radio producer and folklorist Rachel Hopkin. Episode 6 was recorded on January 28, 2021.