deepta seshadri
Deepta Seshadri is an accomplished Bharatanatyam practitioner, performing artist and dance educator based in Texas. A former lawyer and a thoughtful artist, Deepta is committed to pushing the boundaries of Bharatanatyam to cater to wider audiences. Steadfast in her approach to the form, she blends strong classical technique with contemporary themes and interdisciplinary explorations. Her recent choreographic works including Godha’s Garland, Roots and Routes, Parithāpam are reflective of this.
With excellent command over rhythm, technique, and subtle emotive capabilities, she performs extensively across global platforms. Some of her notable performances include those for Bridges Festival by Garage Arts Project in Dallas, SEEDS by Agora Artists in Dallas, Barnstorm Dance Fest, Houston, for Krishna Gana Sabha, Trinity Arts Festival, Natyarangam, ICCR, among others in India.
Mentored by Smt. Indira Kadambi, Deepta is a recipient of the prestigious "Natya Chemmal" title from Trinity Fine Arts, the “Scholarship to Young Artiste” program of the Indian Government, among others. She was the recipient of a grant funded by the City of Dallas, Office of Arts and Culture and Agora Artists in 2024. She also leads community focused dance initiatives, mentors peers, and consults in arts management alongside her performance and teaching practice.
abstract
Between Then and Now
Presentation & Discussion of New Works
Between Then and Now, is a contemplative piece that navigates the shifting textures of time experienced in the aftermath of grief. Drawing upon the classical idiom of Bharatanatyam—its geometry, rhythm, and abhinaya and based on personal narratives—the work probes how time stretches, collapses, and distorts when touched by sorrow. Moments of stillness interrupt cascades of rhythm; memories and reality repeat, rewind, or stutter forward—echoing the cyclical and nonlinear nature of memory and mourning. Anchored in the language of Bharatanatyam and exploring new forms of presentation and musical structures, the piece blurs the line between past and present, the tangible and the remembered.