Tweet Virginia Wolf famously said, women need a room of their own and money in order to be able to write. Dr. Swarnamalya revisits this need in the 21st century to ask if women who have a reasonable access to a room and some money, need something else today. What can the middle class woman […]
Tweet Following Carnatic singer TM Krishna’s recent comments about the Tamil Brahmin community’s social acceptance of MS Subbalaksmi, another debate has opened up on a different trajectory. The debate is not about MS Amma, but of how we perceive, imagine and discuss the past lives and present condition of Devadasis and their families. Some Carnatic […]
Tweet As this was an article I wrote exclusively for the SDHS (Society of Dance History Scholars) convention and has been published by them, I am herewith providing the link to the PDF of the article. Please click the link below to access the article. I would value your comments. Ganesh_sdhs2 Tweet
Tweet Notions of “classical” in Bharatanatyam: a cultural operation of the classes – arguments of the cosmopolitan Margi and indigenous Desi, repertoires of the Nayak period – Dr. Swarnamalya Ganesh e-mail: swarnamalya@gmail.com India’s greatest wealth, development and civilisation have been stirred by its political and cultural processes (Talbot, 2006). In turn, the political agendas have […]
Tweet Trailer -FROM THE ATTIC>Hello from Los Angeles: Pursuing dance academically has been a long term dream, almost an extension of my otherwise questioning mind even as a performer. Researching for over six years on the “Past performing traditions” for a doctoral research allowed me to discover many missing and vital links that give the […]
Tweet The search for a lost dance form or repertoire means it is a holistic search for its historical context, the narratives, voices etc. Putting each piece of this jig saw will reveal a better picture. Its a very exciting process but one that needs patience and perseverance. Any research work unless with un disputable […]
Tweet He was the most illustrious of his dynasty. The moment we hear his name our minds will wander to the temple city of the South- Madurai He ruled from Madurai between 1623-59. This mighty king was not just a great ruler but also a very keen connoisseur of the various arts. It was in […]
Tweet They waltz in together. Two women adorned with beautiful nose rings, toes rings, chutti, Jadai billai, naagar, their silken pallus sweeping the floor, thick braided hair swinging from side to side, they walk into the room. Every eye turns towards them. The air is filled with the scent of the champaka, punnaaga, mallika and […]
Tweet Fifteen minutes after I was born, my father knocked on the doors of Pandit Sethuraman, renowned numerologist and astrologer. He recorded my birth chart and wrote at the bottom of the page that I will attain fame and name and it will be very hard to protect me” and then named me Swarnamalya (as […]
Tweet Dear all,I realize this blog is also quite not as immediate to my previous on as I would have desired. But a lot of travelling had me on my toes, literally. But here I am, to continue the journey.Im sure you all remember my eulogy to a great mentor in Dr. T.N.Ramachandran sir of […]