Dancer Ananth Udupa roots his philosophy in the Natyashastra, an ancient Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts

Boston Globe

17-03-2025

The 'Upanayana Project' blends 'that history and my lived experience as a queer child being asked to renounce his femininity, his queerness,' Udupa said.
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Ananth Udupa keeps a photograph of himself at age 4 on his phone, which plays recorded music for his rehearsal at the Dance Complex.
Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff
Where to find him
:
Age
: 25
Lives in
: Medford
Making a living
: Formerly a cultural planner at the
Ananth Udupa rehearses "Upanayana Project" at the Dance Complex.
Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff
Studio
: The Dance Complex in Cambridge.
How he started
: The choreographer didn't consider himself an artist until after college, at a program run by the dance nonprofit
proud
of this,'' he recalled. He began 'acknowledging my background in dance as of value for myself and also for the world.'
What he makes
: He roots his philosophy of dance in the
Ananth Udupa rehearses at the Dance Complex. His classical Indian style of Bharatanatyam features abstract geometries and emotion-based storytelling.
Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff
'Emotions, or
rasa
, which translates to 'the eternal nectar,' is the tool through which the dancer attains enlightenment, and in that moment shares it with the audience,' Udupa said. 'It is in communicating story through gesture, through movement, and in community that we heal.'
How he works
: With 'Upanayana Project,' Udupa said, 'it's been a process of 'I have an idea, but I don't have the words for it,' and then slowly starting to find words. Working on a little bit of movement, maybe finding some music and then taking a pause.'
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In the pause, he researched the ritual's history and interviewed scholars and initiates. From there, it's back to the studio. 'Now I have all this material that's circling in my brain that I can begin to create with,' Udupa said.
Dance notations in Ananth Udupa's sketchbook.
Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff
That might entail writing an improvisational score or drawing out movements. 'Sometimes it's just moving and letting the body do the work,' he said.
Advice for artists
: 'Pause and listen to what comes from the spirit,' he said, 'and trust its truth.'
WE CREATE 2025:
THE MOVEMENTS THAT FREE(D) US
At Hibernian Hall, 184 Dudley St., Roxbury, April 4 and 5. Presented by Danza Orgánica.
Ananth Udupa rehearses an Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam at the Dance Complex. The working title of his original dance is the "Upanayana Project."
Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff
Cate McQuaid can be reached at