How the narrative of Bharat Natyam transalates when it leaves it's own culture?

Posted by melissa Inman (80.42.134.175) on January 03, 2006 at 13:43:38:

I am currently studying BA hons arts and event production in Bournemouth and writing my dissertation on all the aspects that surround the suject mentioned.It would be great to have feed back from traditional dancers speciallising in Bharat natyam on these questions I have listed.

1. What does your culture mean to you?

2. Can you tell me about the history of your dancing background?

3. Why do you perform Bharata Natyam to audiences of a different culture? and when you do do you include a verbal introduction or explanation?

4.
Who is your target audience?

5. Do you feel the narrative of the story telling in is understood when translated to an audience of a different culture?

6. Do you have to adapt the dance or explain the religious mythology and meaning of the narrative involved in Bharata Natyam to specific audiences?

7. I would like to explore how successful you think Bharata Natyam is with audiences that are either:

- born in India?
- 2nd generation Indian?
- European ancestry?

8. How do you feel about contemporary Indian dance?

9. Do you feel Contemporary/ British south Asian dance is a way of simplifying the translation of Bharata Natyam?

10. Is your work funded?

11. If your work is funded do you find you face any difficulties when applying to funding bodies and fitting to their criteria?

your opinions will be extremely valid in answering my dissertation question Thankyou.