ELEVATE CHICAGO DANCE 2022

LAB ARTIST 2022

Kinnari Vora shares stories of universal human conditions and emotions through movement, meditation, and theatrical practices. Her movements are rooted in Bharatanatyam (disciple of Sarmishtha Sarkar, India), various Indian folk dances and kalaripayattu martial arts. Her work is guided by ancestral energy, wisdom of nature and collaborative communion. Being a physical therapist and a yoga practitioner/instructor, she integrates healing practices in her dancemaking. Kinnari is co-founder and artistic co-chair of Ishti Collective and a dancer collaborator with Surabhi Ensemble. Her works have been presented at The Art Institute of Chicago, Detroit Dance City Festival, Pivot Arts Festival, Ragdale Foundation, World Music Festival, among others; and in India, Mexico, Vietnam, Spain and Portugal.

Kinnari meditates on mortality, the journey of consciousness, and impermanence. During her lab year, she is initiating a dialogue about alternative ways of approaching aging, death, and end-of-life care in our society. She will be developing “Antarabhava: an existence in intervals,” by researching what she can learn from her ancestors, nature, and different religious, cultural, and societal practices to bring acceptance, preparedness, and celebration to the death transition.