World Dance Photo Workshop #6: Bharatanatyam

Join us for our sixth World Dance Photo Workshop. This exclusive series of workshops will give us the opportunity to explore vibrant dance traditions from around the world, all without leaving the SF Bay Area. Each workshop will feature a different style of traditional dance.

Our thrilling next workshop features Bharatanatyam, an ancient style of classical dance from Southern India. Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest classical dance forms of India, originating over 2,000 years ago in the temples of Tamil Nadu. It is a highly disciplined art form that blends precise rhythmic footwork and splendid costumes with expressive storytelling and gestures to convey spiritual and traditional themes. But this ancient dance style is beginning to fuse with modern themes and movement forms. In recent years a few cutting-edge practitioners have adapted Bharatanatyam to our contemporary world, moving this ancient dance form forward to advocate for social change and tell modern stories.

For this very special and exclusive workshop, I am thrilled to present contemporary Bharatanatyam luminary Surabhi Bharadwaj along with Surya Ravi, Surabhi's co-choreographer and fellow instructor in her professional company Siddhi Collective. They will share their brilliant artistry through dazzling movement, unique costumes, and visual storytelling for us to capture the magical moments.

Photographers will shoot in a number of timed rounds, with one photographer shooting at a time. Wardrobe, movement styles, lighting, and/or sets will change between rounds.

We will be using Pocket Wizards to trigger the studio flashes, so bring one if you have one. We do have some to share if you don't already have a pocket wizard.

Bring your camera and a lens that covers a standard zoom range of about 24-70mm and/or a standard prime of about 35 mm or 50mm (full-frame equivalent). Your lens does not have to be fast, as we will be using studio strobe lighting.

Attendees will be provided a promotional usage release. Commercial releases will be available from the models for an additional fee.

You won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to photograph these two world-acclaimed artists as they present Bharatanatyam movement in a variety of settings: solo and duo, in a range of stunning costumes, and in different dance styles, both traditional and contemporary. We will capture their vibrant artistry using a number of photographic techniques which may include high-key, low-key, colored gels, and long-exposure motion blur.

Looking forward to creating with you at the workshop.

Kyle