About the Project

Nan was first exposed to the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble in 1996 when she photographed their debut performance in New York City for the NY Times. The rave revue they received launched them in the US. She was so enchanted by the dancers, and the concept of a village devoted to dance, that she jumped at Protima Bedi’s invitation to visit the school in India – and subsequently decided to make a documentary film about the Nrityagram Dance Village and Ensemble. She has become a great friend of the members of Nrityagram, photographing many of their New York performances, and putting up dancers on her sofa when hotels overflowed. She has traveled to India twice to film life in the dance village, and research archival materials.

Her mission is to capture for posterity the story of the dance village and the dancers, and how they promote and develop the Odissi dance form. She also intends for the documentary to be used as promotion for Nrityagram. The dance village depends on funding assistance for its survival, so anything that builds awareness of the program is helpful. She will offer the documentary as a tool to assist Executive Director, Lynne Fernandez with fundraising for the school.

Nrityagram Executive Director Lynne Fernandez, with Protima Bedi.