A visual design titled “intersections”, representing themes of Indian classical dance. The word “intersections” is central in red lowercase serif font, with connecting lines branching to nodes labeled: “Diaspora,” “Performance,” “Research,” “Contemporary,” “Classical,” and “Indian.” The lines resemble a transit map, suggesting interconnectedness. The background features faint scripts and words in various South Asian languages and English, such as “LAYAM,” “RASA,” “NATYAM,” and “BHAVA.” Logos of MITHAS (MIT Heritage Arts of South Asia) and The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute at Harvard University appear at the bottom. The design emphasizes the convergence of tradition, innovation, scholarship, and identity in the Indian classical dance diaspora.

Intersections Dance Conference: Traditions and Innovations in Indian Classical Dance

Presented by MIT Heritage Arts of South Asia (MITHAS) & Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute at Harvard University
WHERE
Thomas Tull Concert Hall 201 Amherst Street - MIT , Cambridge
WHEN
The dates for this event have passed
COST
$35-65

Intersections Conference 2025

Traditions and Innovations in Indian Classical Dance
September 27–28, 2025 | MIT & Harvard University | Boston, MA

Dance artists, educators, cultural organizers, and curious minds across disciplines are invited to Intersections 2025—a national convening exploring the future of Indian classical dance in the North American diaspora.

Hosted by MITHAS (MIT Heritage Arts of South Asia) and the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute at Harvard, this pioneering conference, curated by the Anubhava Dance Company, centers Indian classical dance as a space for research, creative exchange, and professional dialogue across generations and geographies.

Registration to this one-and-a-half-day gathering includes:

  • Performances, research talks, and lecture-demonstrations featuring over 40 established and emerging speakers and artists from across the Indian diaspora
  • Workshops on grant writing, career planning, injury prevention for dancers, and movement technique intensives
  • Panel discussions on financial and structural challenges of pursuing dance professionally, the complexities of presenting classical dance in today’s arts landscape, and the evolving aesthetics of dance
  • Working groups to address emerging issues in the field through peer dialogue and design thinking principles
  • Opportunities for networking and community-building with fellow artists, presenters, and cultural leaders
  • Discounted access to the MITHAS Dance Series evening concert, featuring Priyadarsini Govind (one of the world’s leading Bharatanatyam exponents) and the Anubhava Dance Company (a Boston-based group pushing the boundaries of Indian classical dance through immersive performance, technology, and bold new narratives)

While centered on Indian classical forms, Intersections speaks to broader questions relevant to all dance educators and artists:

  • How do traditional forms evolve in new cultural contexts?
  • What professional infrastructures do artists need to thrive?
  • How can dance be positioned not only as cultural practice, but as a vital artistic, intellectual, and political force

More than a festival, this conference offers space for deep reflection, skill-building, and bold collective visioning. Join us as we gather artists, researchers, and cultural leaders to celebrate the vibrancy of Indian classical dance and envision new possibilities for its future.

For More Information: https://mithas.org/dance | Questions? Contact: intersectionsdanceconference@gmail.com

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