Annual Dr. Sunil Kothari Lecture: The Balanced Breath by Rama Vaidyanathan

For the fifth annual Dr. Sunil Kothari Honorary Lecture presented by the Jerome Robbins Dance Division at the Library for the Performing Arts,  Rama Vaidyanathan presents a lecture demonstration on Bharatanatyam dance,  “The Balanced Breath: Dance of Inner Equilibrium.” Rama Vaidyanathan represents the convergence of two rich Bharatanatyam lineages - one through Guru Yamini Krishnamurthi, and the other through Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan. This dual tradition forms the foundation of Rama’s unique style, which balances classical authenticity with artistic freedom. Rama has redefined Bharatanatyam by blending classical precision with expansive spiritual inquiry. Her evocative choreographies - abstract, yet deeply grounded- transform dance into a medium for exploring universal consciousness and inner transformation.

Born on December 20, 1933, in Mumbai, Dr. Sunil Kothari was an accountant before turning to the study of Indian dance forms. He authored more than 20 books on the subject of Indian dance forms, including Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Chhau, Kathak, Kuchipudi, and photo biographies of Uday Shankar and Rukmini Devi Arundale. As a dance scholar, Dr. Kothari held the Uday Shankar Chair in Rabindra Bharati University and taught in the Dance Department of New York University as a Fulbright Professor. Dr. Kothari died in 2020, and to honor his life and work, the Jerome Robbins Dance Division presents the annual Dr. Sunil Kothari Honorary Lecture on Indian Classical Dance by a visiting scholar. Past Dr. Kothari lectures have included Bijayini Satpathy in 2022,  Malavika Sarukkai in 2023, and Alarmél Valli in 2024.

Photo Credit: Photo of Rama Vaidyanathan by Innee Singh.