My grandmother in her 20s.

My Atha/mom in the back and my Chithi/aunt in front, as they perform Tamil Folk Dance in Chennai, India.

My parents at their engagement.

Dancing at the age of 2

Dancing at the age of 2

photo credit: Tim Rummelhoff, McKnight Foundation 2016

A moment from Ananya Dance Theatre's Moreechika: Season of Mirage (2012). 

Inspired by Vairavan's image, poet and healing artist Sham E-Ali Nayeem created this collage.

A moment from the Women's March 2017 with mentor Dr. Ananya Chatterjea

Vairavan received the 2015 Sage Award for Outstanding Performer for her work with Ananya Dance Theatre and Aniccha Arts.

Pictured with Gina Kundan (center) and Dr. Ananya Chatterjea (right).

A moment while performing my first solo on April 5 and 6, 2013 as a part of Sistah Solo, curated by Maia Maiden, in Patrick’s Cabaret.

photo credit: Jim Smith

A moment while performing in Aniccha Art’s Census at the 2016 Northern Spark Festival.

With over 100 people moving as a critical mass in collective patterns and at random flourishes, Census addresses the inherent challenges and inaccuracies of taking count of a populace. This performance begins with the sunset and invites the interactions of 9 hours of festival-goers to dance along into the sunrise.

Duet by Vairavan for the 2015 Catalyst Series at Intermedia Arts

Watch Vairavan's performance in TEDxMinneapolis
Creation and performance by Chitra Vairavan
in collaboration with Dr. Cecilia Martinez of Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy 

Watch Vairavan's performance in TEDxMinneapolis
Creation and performance by Chitra Vairavan
in collaboration with Dr. Cecilia Martinez of Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy 

creation and performance: Chitra Vairavan
photo credit: RJL Photography

Rehearsing for 'Seeds of Transcendence' a collaborative experimental piece by Chitra Vairavan, Sally Nixon, and Jordan Malcom Hamilton as a part of New Puppetworks by the 2017 Monkeybear Cohort. 

Photo by Bruce Silcox

A moment from 'Seeds of Transcendence' a collaborative experimental piece by Chitra Vairavan, Sally Nixon, and Jordan Malcom Hamilton as a part of New Puppetworks by the 2017 Monkeybear Cohort. Performed on Thursday June 29, 2017 at Pillsbury House Theatre.

Photo by Bruce Silcox

Vairavan performs an improvisation with Ananya Dance Theatre at the 2017 Northern Spark Festival.

photo credit: Ananya Chatterjea

photo credit: Tim Rummelhoff, McKnight Foundation 2016

When you've trained, practiced, created, and been rooted in your foundations and artistry for a long time...there's no question about your ability to fly. The question is when and how wisely you use your time. Strategic, patient and confident affirmations. 💛

photo credit: Timm Rummeloff

On my first visit to work with Eiko Otake (pictured center) for my 2016 McKnight Dance Fellowship.

On my first visit to work with Eiko Otake in New York City, I performed and experimented with movement in the Cathedral of St. John.

Choreographed by Eiko Otake, Performed by Chitra Vairavan
2018 McKnight SOLO | September 14 and 15, 2018
photo: V. Paul Virtucio

collaboration with audiovisual contributors
Tia-Simone Gardner & Rini Yun Keagy
Fragments: Reflecting on Choreographers' Evening 2018 through Bodies and Memory by Maija Brown

photo: Bobby Rogers

Vairavan performed a two-hour solo throughout the Pillsbury House Theater space on January 26, 2019, as part of her 2018 Naked Stages Fellowship in site-specific work.

photo: Bruce Silcox

Created and Performed by Chitra Vairavan for Skewed Visions’ 3PLAY at Fresh Oysters Performance Research
Vairavan’s 30 minute intimate exploratory performance working with old film footage, soil, candlelight and blue tarp. She journeyed through body, spirit and presence - watching herself being watched.

A moment while in performance, with my monster shadow
photo credit: R. Yun Keagy

Created and Performed by Chitra Vairavan for Skewed Visions’ 3PLAY at Fresh Oysters Performance Research
Vairavan’s 30 minute intimate exploratory performance working with old film footage, soil, candlelight and blue tarp. She journeyed through body, spirit and presence - watching herself being watched.