Bio
Priya Narayan is a contemporary Indian classical artist. She is trained in the classical dances of India, Bharatanatyam and Kathak. Since 2006, Priya has taught numerous students and adults in Dance Academy settings, as well in Community Outreach programs such as the After School Programs of the Chicago Public Schools. From 2010-2013, she was the principal dancer for Kalapriya Center of Indian Performing Arts, and served as their Assistant Artistic Director for 2013-2014. She made her choreographic debut with “Reimagine: a Tribute to Vyjayanthimala.” She has performed at many notable venues such as the Harris Theater, Field Museum, Chicago Cultural Center, and the Logan Center of the University of Chicago. Priya has also performed as a solo artist in India, her first International tour taking place in 2013. Much of her original work is deeply rooted in the classical dances of India which she reshapes to push boundaries and ask tough questions regarding societal issues. She received her MA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Columbia College Chicago in 2014.
Priya's work is based on Classical Indian dance brought to a Contemporary stage. She is recognized for her graceful movements and strong expressional performances. Audiences have been transformed from modern day stages to the temples and royal courts of India. Her training as a classical dancer allows for fluid transition from storytelling in the Hindu Mythology to storytelling in today's societal issues. Her work is a vehicle of story telling and movement to bring about change within the South Asian Diaspora. Her focus is in modernizing the divine art form with content focused on the empowerment of women in the United States as well as across the world. Working as an Indian classical dancer, she inspires people of all backgrounds. She is especially concerned with impacting the community that worships the "divine mother," yet forces young girls and women to fear their lives. Priya's work is focused on creating change in that mindset.
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