https://www.chitravairavan.com/poetic-movement daily 0.75 2024-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355617827-FU6B42VC2EH170ZG4T3P/IMG_0338.JPG Poetic Movement - Meenakshi Aaya My Atha/mom’s mom in her 20s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355617827-FU6B42VC2EH170ZG4T3P/IMG_0338.JPG Poetic Movement - Meenakshi Aaya My Atha/mom’s mom in her 20s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1615947714400-Y4XLUEDV26C09HI36IJ2/image-asset.jpeg Poetic Movement - Meenakshi Appatha (age 14) and Meenakshi Aaya (age 20) My grandmothers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355664350-YI5P04PRFXEQSIZMJ98B/16107561_10108984510186500_7023551878797523463_o.jpg Poetic Movement My Atha/mom in the back and my Chithi/aunt in front, as they perform Tamil Folk Dance in Chennai, India. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355629387-ELXEHEK9Y4XMZ2SPBCAM/10624590_10105330664253040_6743591004461042710_n.jpg Poetic Movement Dancing at the age of 2 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355541162-M153MPILIEGM4N3B1X2Y/10703816_10105330664163220_14781410700657657_n.jpg Poetic Movement Dancing at the age of 2 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355552555-415B5FJ641BPTMJ7B0Z2/10411986_10105879422552010_3528943338558161186_n.jpg Poetic Movement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355784121-GZV7ZRBETOXUD5BOYVPJ/10675797_10105330664302940_3899431668779065144_n.jpg Poetic Movement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355692162-CNTEHGDWK3DZGBG7S6XF/10641066_10105330666089360_7717866710547452460_n.jpg Poetic Movement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355566701-QT9HPMPVIKFVXFKFHL6T/10351263_10105330665914710_1910444936959712179_n.jpg Poetic Movement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513135546633-TBC3IK79OFJZW19AGK87/15975180_10108919398840160_5280032281930361497_o.jpg Poetic Movement - Listening to my feet this season photo credit: Tim Rummelhoff, McKnight Foundation 2016 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355494436-5GB7YNZKB8E4LA7RD3TS/Caterpillar2Butterfly.JPG Poetic Movement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513133396398-4DLDR2IR9WXRIV9RXYAA/ChitraVairavanTear_McKnightDancer2015.JPG Poetic Movement - Founding Member of Ananya Dance Theatre and dancer for 14 seasons A moment from Ananya Dance Theatre's Moreechika: Season of Mirage (2012). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355742030-KR2T4F21SH1D911XY58C/12604859_10153545107643227_421959081035404713_o.jpg Poetic Movement - After the Rain Inspired by Vairavan's image, poet and healing artist Sham E-Ali Nayeem created this collage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355821258-CERDSTL8KRH8Z7VYSAWO/16112863_10109002473123630_6409062790267193257_o.jpg Poetic Movement A moment from the Women's March 2017 with mentor Dr. Ananya Chatterjea https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355882040-0EJKPWVCN4BJKFE68U2E/IMG_0198.JPG Poetic Movement - Minnesota Sage Awards 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). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513357123166-AM4SNV5N3Y6Q9C6FMO8K/11045403_10106047332608910_7437033871431358931_o.jpg Poetic Movement - First solo, untitled 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 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355518832-OPFHSF4IJBS3BS510I7Q/13445575_10153658654262361_7830755570899615184_n.jpg Poetic Movement - Census 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. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355918839-8ISFB24448JPB6FJSEPK/IMG_0206.JPG Poetic Movement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355482073-ONDZ5M8TULQPG7YMKHML/IMG_0211.JPG Poetic Movement - My Heart Hurts in Brown (October 2015) Duet by Vairavan for the 2015 Catalyst Series at Intermedia Arts https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513135540556-DI2DUUMH3VU56AA2LBDM/14910319_10108473381252980_2922117858131750305_n.jpg Poetic Movement - Water is Life (August 12, 2016) 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 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355776836-VQGPB5TG5BS97RG9TH5K/IMG_1523.JPG Poetic Movement - Water is Life (August 12, 2016) 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 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1514387657282-7PQO5FC3J867T20JZMC6/19575027_10154643241246931_5226706418598805144_o.jpg Poetic Movement - Rehearsal for 'Seeds of Transcendence' (June 2017) 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 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1514387447873-CGXYC22KP6X5Q78TMVFA/19554871_10213841489897988_5475033931927214600_n.jpg Poetic Movement - Seeds of Transcendence (June 2017) 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 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1514387725011-JZVXJNN1ZJR62E9HGAY3/18952787_10158826391550298_6846723285521222766_n.jpg Poetic Movement Vairavan performs an improvisation with Ananya Dance Theatre at the 2017 Northern Spark Festival. photo credit: Ananya Chatterjea https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513136019350-XEN486HWHE7FR1DRCAIX/ChitLaugh.JPG Poetic Movement - Burst of joy in transition photo credit: Tim Rummelhoff, McKnight Foundation 2016 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355608307-47PIAXZ8XXA8E6F8VYTU/17358543_10109355161667960_6958176709175866628_o.jpg Poetic Movement - Patient Affirmations 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 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355505307-KHD8E7C3V3NKQ8L5T58R/DifferentPerspective.JPG Poetic Movement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355941201-1GU8QI8S4KI7PII3BWMR/IMG_1796.JPG Poetic Movement - While working with Eiko On my first visit to work with Eiko Otake (pictured center) for my 2016 McKnight Dance Fellowship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513355586781-FTJD5RSB97RUVRK7O8RH/IMG_1828.JPG Poetic Movement - Dancing in the cathedral 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. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1541736815192-B6EKRD5935PZQ9MDAENP/Chitra02-DSC_9103.jpg Poetic Movement - Station Choreographed by Eiko Otake, Performed by Chitra Vairavan 2018 McKnight SOLO | September 14 and 15, 2018 photo: V. Paul Virtucio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1543711359299-NP0JHDH554Q38Z0WQJ6I/OneRemovedPerformance.jpg Poetic Movement - One Removed 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 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1550093582529-F1UEA7MBDPIDASKJ4E19/011619pillsbury031.jpg Poetic Movement - cloth and body (performed January 26, 2019) 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 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1559664895640-EJFYCJLG7HVGI38N0KSE/promoimage.JPG Poetic Movement - Blue + Brown (Solo, April 28, 2019) 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. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1559665288696-LMFOCNTJT6KGELLRTFXF/Blue%2BBrownShowImagepc-R.YunKeagy2.jpeg Poetic Movement - Blue + Brown (solo, April 28, 2019) 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. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1601693495468-AOQS8KID87AMK63HA0EP/20+Jul+20+AWUM+Chitra+Bdote+by+Nancy+Wong-9070.jpg Poetic Movement - A Cleanse Unseen / Matriarch Waters A dance film for the Asian Women United of Minnesota's annual fundraiser in October 2020 to support families dealing with domestic violence. To donate online: www.tinyurl.com/awum2020gala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1611427567627-NJ7DYYIVQAR2XVKI4WY1/Chitra+in+St+John+the+Divine%2C+26+November+2016%2C+No.+1352+Photo+by+Wm+Johnston+%282%29.jpg Poetic Movement - A blueprint for the decolonized spiritual Vairavan’s creative process and reflections in Mn Artists, Deep Listening: Creating from Memories and Speaking through Dance (January 20, 2021) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1641257401964-AVNPOSLF6KWR8SHGWEM2/image-asset.jpg Poetic Movement - Re-Bloomed Lotus (September 2021) Watch Red Eye Theater’s JOBSITE featuring Vairavan’s Re-Bloomed Lotus (September 2021) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1710643344892-WNXH9S4MGY2DR4C0ZNQY/image-asset.jpg Poetic Movement - Rosy Simas Danse Studio 331 Residency, April 2022 “Tirumurthi” immersion projection and dance work with live sound by Eyvind Kang RSD Studio 331 Residency, April 2022 https://www.chitravairavan.com/home daily 1.0 2025-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513361304712-X0MGXWPK54HGXZVO54VT/_MG_6749.jpg Miller https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1590207394159-RGLIKLPJKKR05FAAJTRK/11-WaterIsLife-collage.jpg Miller https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1513358731353-BFURH5VV373N2BBWSNZL/ChitraVairavan2014.JPG Miller - Named "25 to Watch" in 2017 Schooled in Bharatanatyam and muscular, percussive Chhau- and Odissi-based choreography, her fearlessness in revealing the personal as political earned her a 2016 McKnight Fellowship for Dancers. Vairavan's ardor for igniting change through dance is as innate as it is intentional. Watch her soar. —Camille LeFevre Read her highlight in Dance Magazine (full article archived here) https://www.chitravairavan.com/about daily 0.75 2025-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1601701414279-1GHRUUSNNLR2HVKVLHT8/20+Jul+20%2C+Chitra+at+Bdote+by+Nancy+Wong+for+AWUM About Pictured above: Vairavan at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers, Bdote, in “A Cleanse Unseen / Matriarch Waters” a dance film for the Asian Women United of Minnesota (AWUM) fundraiser in October 2020. Photo by Nancy Wong. https://www.chitravairavan.com/cultural-production daily 0.75 2024-09-28 https://www.chitravairavan.com/gratitude daily 0.75 2024-10-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1590207394159-RGLIKLPJKKR05FAAJTRK/11-WaterIsLife-collage.jpg Gratitude Water is Life (2015), collage design by Sham-e-Ali Nayeem https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3080ce2278e79ec2ac5231/1687354669829-5XV62BAS6QHM2L45T4P0/image-asset.jpeg Gratitude