Sari Stories, Chapter Three — Sari Sisters: Jaya & Swaati
How the drape holds meaning and memory for the desi mind, body, and soul. A series of interview-vignettes, showcasing uber serious sari love, brought out … Read more
Dance
Mixed-Remixed, Identity & Smoke that Travels
Some background information: I am mixed. Or variously: biracial, multi-ethnic, Eurasian. Less kindly by a classmate in middle school: mutt. The mechanics: my dad is from … Read more
Odissi, The Invisible Dance
Dancers are easy to spot. Almost anyone can tell a dancer apart from a crowd. I think it’s because of the way we stand, albeit … Read more
WATCH: “Geeta’s Guide To Moving On” Tackles Post-Heartbreak Life In Chicago
You might recognize Puja Mohindra from her kindly cutting comedic response to Ashton Kutcher’s infamous brownface Popchips incident, or perhaps from her blonde-wigged persona in … Read more
May 28-29: Exploring Identities In Intersection At Smithsonian APA Center’s Crosslines
This weekend, May 28-29, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center presents “Crosslines: A Culture Lab on Intersectionality,” a free event in Washington, D.C., at the … Read more
DhoomBros Pay Hilarious Tribute to ‘Evolution of Bollywood Dance’ 1955-2014
Earlier this week, fellow contributor to The Aerogram Ashley Kooblall pointed me towards the fantastic Penn Masala-inspired “Evolution of Bollywood Dance” video spoof by the DhoomBros. YouTube … Read more
From Nautch Girl to Naughty Girl: On Item Songs and Randy Boys
Plug in a search for “item girl” into YouTube and you’ll find scores of suggestive screenshots, a heap of amateur softcore porn and just a … Read more
Unforgettable Dances: ‘Ek Do Teen’ from ‘Tezaab’
If you’ve been exposed to Bollywood at all, then you know that the movies love to incorporate multiple song-and-dance routines. Some of the routines are … Read more
‘Upaj: Improvise’: When the Kathak Master Met the Tap Star
It’s a waning art being eclipsed by a flashy contemporary entertainment culture. It struggles to capture distracted young audiences who’ve grown up on hip hop. … Read more
Personal Fitness, Bollywood Style
According to Kajal Desai and Priya Pandya, co-founders of the dance and fitness company Doonya, it was a photocopied flier that brought them together. Eight … Read more
