Sat 3/14 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm EDT
Chitra (meaning “portrait”) is an evening-length Kathak solo with Ariaki Dandawate that presents distinct vignettes of the form’s rhythmic precision and expressive range. Through traditional compositions, the work highlights how Kathak’s unique technique and storytelling complement each other, from intricate footwork and complex rhythmic structures to nuanced expression.
At the heart of Chitra is Kathak’s dynamic relationship with its audience. Through spoken rhythmic syllables and interactive exchange the performance transforms rhythm into imagery: painting moments drawn from everyday life and the natural world. Humor, playfulness, tenderness, and intensity emerge side by side, offering a richly textured experience.
Engaging and immediate, Chitra presents Kathak as an art form driven by rhythm and human connection — one that speaks across backgrounds and invites audiences into a shared space of feeling, imagination, and discovery.
Ariaki Dandawate is a Kathak artist, teacher and performer based in the Greater Boston and New York Metropolitan Areas. She has trained for over 20 years under Archana Joglekar and holds a Master’s degree in Kathak. As an emerging solo performer and choreographer, Ariaki’s work aims to contextualize her practice for uninitiated audiences, thereby emphasizing the cultural relevance of traditional Kathak practices on the contemporary stage. Her process is informed by her experiences as a 1st generation-American who shares a deep connection to her Indian heritage, and who has spent decades honing her craft under a cultural backdrop foreign to Kathak.
To that end, Ariaki’s diverse artistic career spanning performance, education and choreography has allowed her to further her outreach as an artist. She has performed immersive solo performances within North America and abroad at the Battery Dance Festival, Rubin Museum (NYC), Ursuline Arts Center (Kentucky), Aki Studio (Toronto), Multicultural Arts Center (Boston), David and Dorothea Garfield Theater (San Diego), to name a few.
In addition, Ariaki was commissioned to create and present collaborative work on several occasions at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (NY), Multicultural Arts Center (Boston), and Arts At the Armory (Boston).
In addition to her work as a performer, Ariaki has served as a cultural consultant on projects like the Asian American Ballet Project (Boston)’s reimagination of “La Bayadere”. She was invited as a guest lecturer on “Storytelling in Kathak” for the Ohio State University’s Theater Department. At present, she is a 2026 Lotus Fellow with Arts India US, where she is developing original work that challenges the boundaries and contexts of Kathak presentation.
In addition to Kathak, Ariaki has been training in Odissi with Guru Bijayini Satpathy since 2019 through virtual, in-person, and residential intensive formats. With a unique blend of tradition and innovation, Ariaki’s performances and workshops aim to bring the rich cultural heritage of Kathak to a wider audience. Through creative choreography and immersive storytelling, Ariaki’s work transcends boundaries and captivates audiences of all ages.
