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This detailed book on Contemporary dance is a much needed narrative for Indian audiences interested in the contemporary arts. To the uninitiated audience and students of dance, the book transmits ample knowledge written in simple, clear language and for seasoned practitioners, it becomes a treasure trove that reminds them of rich creative contributions of dance pioneers to this amazing form!

Written by a practitioner and a teacher of this art form, the book does justice to what the title promises to deliver ‘Contemporary dance: Practices, Paradigms and Practitioners’ in as succinct a manner as possible. The discussions on contemporary dance, varied aspects and allied arts related to it, including all the detailed answers to frequently asked questions about contemporary dance, are most enriching. Tripura moves through contemporary dance history and current trends in the west and east with an amazing ease, and articulates similarities and differences, all the while holding a stance of almost factual neutrality. The book does not try to glorify one or the other approach, style or technique, but places before readers unbiased articulations of contemporary dance stories and journeys.

The author’s own experiences are blended in with details of her conversations with contemporary dance practitioners. It is fascinating to read what choreographers and dancers have to say about their creative processes. The book gives readers glimpses of what goes on in the minds of these artists as they create brilliant pieces of Contemporary Dance Art.

Tripura Kashyap is a Choreographer, Dance Educator, Movement Therapist and Performer. She trained in Bharatanatyam at Kalakshetra, Chennai (1980-84) and was exposed to Jazz, Ballet, Modern Dance, Choreography and Dance Theatre at American Dance Festival, North Carolina. She studied Dance/Movement Therapy at Hancock Center and Contemporary dance at University of Wisconsin, Madison (USA) and later obtained an M.A in Psychology. She learnt MayurbhanjChhau with Bharat Sharma and was a performer in Chandralekha’s Dance Company for many years. Tripura has received fellowships from Indian Ministry of Culture, SangeetNatak Academy (Delhi) and Ashoka International foundation for her innovative work in dance therapy and contemporary dance.

Some of her noteworthy choreographies are ’120 footsteps’, ‘Anguish’, ‘Six Circumstances’, ‘Short Story’, ‘Fragments’ and ‘Walls of Memories’ among many others. She has performed at national and international festivals as a soloist and with her group Apoorva Dance Theatre which she founded in Bengaluru in 1994. She has worked collaboratively with Film makers, Visual artists and Musicians on cross art projects and performances. Tripura was also a teacher, performer and choreographer at Bhoomika Creative Dance Centre (Delhi) and a creative consultant for Dance-in-Education program at Attakkalari Center for Movement Arts, Bengaluru.

Tripura pioneered Creative Movement Therapy in India in 1990. She is on the teaching faculty of Dance and Expressive Arts Therapy courses in Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune. She authored ‘My body, my wisdom’ – a handbook on Creative Dance Therapy published by Penguin and was a freelance dance journalist for newspapers in Bengaluru. In 2014 she co-founded the Creative Movement Therapy Association of India (CMTAI).