We recently connected with Rathi Varma and have shared our conversation below.

Rathi, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I started dancing at the age of 15 at Shiamak Davar’s Institute of Performing Arts in Mumbai. India. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to be a performer. But, my parents weren’t’ fully supportive of me choosing Dance as a profession as it wasn’t a lucrative career back then. I went on to study Fine Arts and Craft and Visual Communication while continuing to dance on the side. After completing my studies, I worked as an illustrator until the age of 29. Little did I know, fate had other plans for me. In Oct 2017, I met with an accident while riding my bike and broke my forearm bones, Ulna and Radius. My first thought, on my seeing broken forearm was, “How am I ever going to dance again?” That’s when I realised what dance meant to me!

I decided to pursue dance professionally and in 2018, I took the decision to leave my stable career and family behind and move to New York City to chase my dreams of being a dancer. I decided to pursue dance professionally and moved to New York City in 2018. This time, my parents supported my decision whole heartedly. It was a risk I was willing to take as I was fully aware that my age might be a limitation in a physically demanding field. Considering I started training much later in my life, I was curious and ready to start anew. It’s a risk I will NEVER regret!, I started training at Peridance Centre and graduated with honours in September 2021. During my training at Peridance, I came across various classes and teachers that have helped me shape who I am today. I’ve gained a lot more knowledge in anatomy, technique and performance which I now use as a performer and teacher

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

How you got into your industry? What type of services/creative works you provide,

I started dancing at the age of 15 at Shiamak Davar’s Institute of Performing Arts (SDIPA) where I trained in Contemporary and Bollywood Jazz . In 2006, through the same institute, I got the opportunity to at the Closing Ceremony of The Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. Although dancing wasn’t my primary career, I pursued dance on the side while studying and working in design. In 2016, I trained at The Danceworx in Mumbai, India where I learnt Contemporary, Ballet and Jazz. After my accident in 2017, I decided to take up dance full time and moved to New York City to study Dance at Peridance Centre. Here, I further developed my skills in Contemporary, Ballet, Dance Theatre, Horton and body conditioning techniques. Since 2019, I’ve had the opportunity to perform and work with multiple choreographers such as Anabella Lenzu, Apollonia Holzier, Dina Denis, Elise Long and Matthew Westerby to name a few. Apart from being a performer, I’ve also been a teaching artist with DMF Youth Inc, since 2019. It is a non profit organisation that serves underserved youth through life-skill development and dance. I’m currently a company member with Treehouse Shakers, Matthew Westerby Company,  and Time Lapse Dance.

What are you most proud of?

During the pandemic, I participated in multiple workshops such as Dance Composition, Choreography for the Camera and Barre a Terre conducted by Anabella Lenzu. Under her mentorship, I created my first performance art film, Imperfect in 2021. Imperfect revolves around social media and its impact on users, particularly the lifestyle of Influencers who act as a catalyst to alter our views. The crux of the film is focused on the idea of external validation that has paralysed the reality of our situation through toxic positivity and detached interactions. It stems from my struggle of coping with self acceptance in an environment that idolises a utopian vision. The film was premiered at Spoke The Hub In Brooklyn, New York on Oct 22nd. It has also won major prizes and been selected at numerous international film festivals, including the Boden International Film Festival in Sweden, the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival, the l’Age d’Or International Arthouse Film Festival, and the Luis Bunuel Memorial Awards. Recently, it was selected to be presented at MODArts Dance Collective’s (MADC) Move to Change Dance Festival at University Settlement in Manhattan, New York.

What you think sets you apart from others.

My background in Fine art has influenced my work in many ways. I’m inspired by performance artists namely Cindy Sherman and Pushpmala N who use photography and video art to comment on social, political and cultural issues. As a choreographer, I use theatre and movement along with text, props and humour.

What are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your work/ etc.

In 2022, I choreographed 2 live performance pieces namely, Table for Two and What Will Be, Will Be.
Table for Two talks about my desire for love and companionship met with heartbreaks, disappointments and sometimes the cold New Yorker response. I’m constantly questioning the authenticity of human connection masked behind a virtual persona of someone’s best profile picture and intelligent statements. In your quest for love, you embark on a journey of empty conversations, meaningless swipes and obligatory small talks. Lured by a plethora of dating apps and matrimonial sites, dating can be a challenge in an overwhelming city like NYC. In a city where friendliness and loneliness are two sides of the same coin, finding a connection can be conflicted by our fast paced lifestyles, relationships expectations and lack of commitment. What will be, will be talks about how a trial room in a clothing store can transform our sense of identity with the power of what we choose to wear. It also brings forth body image issues formed by societal opinions and our internal voices. I’ve had the opportunity to present both works at Spoke The Hub, Flushing Town Hall in association with Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company as part of the Asian American Dance Festival, BAAD (Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance), Arts on Site, and Balance Arts Centre. ’ve had the opportunity to present both works at Spoke The Hub, Flushing Town Hall in association with Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company as part of the Asian American Dance Festival, BAAD (Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance), Arts on Site hosted by 7MPR as part of their midnight performance series and Balance Arts Centre.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As I graduated from Peridance Centre in Sep 2021, one of my goals was to be a part of contemporary dance theatre company. I’ve worked with choreographers in the past but being a part of a company would enable me to understand the thought process behind teamwork, choreography and how things function behind the scenes. I started auditioning in Jan 2022 all the way until June 2022 until I got my first company offer with Matthew Westerby Company. I went through a total of 35-40 rejections in a span of 6 months. However, during that time period, I did get a couple freelance projects that I took up and gained experience from. Simultaneously, I was teaching and working on my solo performances. The rejections definitely brought my morale down and question my purpose but also made me realise that they don’t define my ability as a dancer. The rejections definitely brought my morale down but also made me realise that they don’t define my ability as a dancer. If anything, it has only made me mentally strong

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

A couple books that have helped me in the past 2 years are The Atomic Habit by James Clear, Six Pillars of Self Esteem by Nathaniel Branden, The Artist’s Compass by Rachel S. Moore and The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp. The first 2 books helped me understand the importance of responsibility, discipline and living purposefully. It helped me create a routine for myself where I continue to work on my body and mind everyday. The 3rd is a book for anyone in the field of performing arts and how the industry works (right from choosing a career in the arts to establishing a company) and the 4th is by the renowned choreographer Twyla Tharp as she takes us on a creative process urging us to explore ideas outside our comfort zone while sharing her own experiences

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rathivarma.com
• Instagram: @rathivarma

Image Credits
Provided image credit along with photo