vaibu mohan
Vaibu Mohan is a New York–based writer, producer, director, and Bharatanatyam practitioner whose work bridges Indian classical and Western performance traditions. She began her Bharatanatyam journey under her mother and guru, Dr. Srimathy Mohan, at Silambam Phoenix, and has since deepened her practice with artists like Smt. Priya Murle and Smt. Roja Kannan. Vaibu’s creative portfolio spans composition, choreography, dramaturgy, and writing. She was a contributing composer for Dasamahavidya, exploring the ten wisdom goddesses, and served as dance director and adaptor for Shoonya Haasyam, a reimagining of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing through Bharatanatyam, ballet, Carnatic, Hindustani, and Western classical music.
Vaibu holds a bachelor’s degree in Musical Theater Performance and Public Policy, and an MFA in Musical Theater Writing from New York University. She is the book writer, lyricist, and movement director of Sati: Goddess Incarnate, a groundbreaking music-theatre work that employs Bharatanatyam as its primary dance language, which premiered in workshop form in New York in August 2025. Through her multidisciplinary practice, Vaibu continues to expand the reach of Bharatanatyam by creating innovative, intercultural work that speaks to contemporary audiences while honoring the integrity of her tradition.
abstract
Bridging Traditions: Expanding Bharatanatyam’s Reach through Artistic Collaboration
Workshop
Led by Vaibu Mohan- This one-hour workshop invites Bharatanatyam artists, educators, and arts leaders to explore how Indian classical dance can thrive in the American arts landscape through cross-cultural collaboration. Using Sati: Goddess Incarnate, a Bharatanatyam-based musical, and Silambam Phoenix’s work integrating Shakespeare and ballet as case studies, participants will examine how tradition and innovation meet. Through discussion, reflection, and a hands-on mapping exercise, attendees will identify potential partners, seed ideas for interdisciplinary projects, and articulate actionable next steps. The session offers strategies to expand Bharatanatyam’s reach while honoring its roots, inspiring meaningful engagement with diverse communities and contemporary narratives.