Natya Sampradaya: The Dance and Traditions of Performing Arts
In today’s global landscape, traditions are constantly evolving as they travel across borders. Within the Indian diaspora, classical art forms such as Kuchipudi are not only being practiced but are finding new meaning and renewed life. My project focuses on documenting this cultural continuity through the work of Sasikala Penumarthi garu, a Kuchipudi dancer and teacher based in Atlanta, who is deeply committed to preserving this ancient tradition while passing it on to the next generation.
Through her teaching, we see how discipline, devotion, and cultural knowledge are carefully transmitted to students who are growing up in a Western environment. These dancers are not only learning movements, but embodying a lineage of storytelling, spirituality, and identity. The practice becomes a bridge between generations and geographies rooted in Indian heritage while evolving within a contemporary context.
My photographic work captures this journey of preservation and transformation highlighting how traditions are sustained through practice, mentorship, and community. It reflects on the role of the artist as both a bearer of tradition and a guide who carries it forward into new cultural landscapes.