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Why India Needs More Artists, Not Just More Achievers

One of the hardest things to watch in India today is how little time children have to discover who they are. With the current academic culture, most schools end at 5 pm, and by the time the child returns home, eats, finishes homework, and prepares for the next day, there is no time left for anything else. No space for art, no space for movement, no space for imagination, exploration or joy. This is the root of the problem. Children in regular schools cannot fully invest in ex

Yamini Kalluri

16 hours ago3 min read

On Gig Culture, Artistry, and the Lost Art of True Collaboration

We live in a gigging world now. In many ways, it feels like the artistic equivalent of flings in the romantic world. It is fast, temporary, pleasurable, but shallow. Long term vision that needs patience, trust, curiosity and deep collaboration is often overlooked. Everyone wants the sparkle of the final product, but very few want to walk the long road toward it. Think about this. So many composers who write for dance have never actually spent time in the presence of dancers o

Yamini Kalluri

4 days ago4 min read

Airplane Musings on Tradition, Crossover & The Fear of Change...

I shared a shorter version of these thoughts on Instagram, but here is a more expansive reflection that came to me on a recent flight. These thoughts always rise in me because I identify as a crossover artist. I feel whole in that identity, even though I deeply value immersing in traditions for proper technical understanding, discipline, and grit. True crossover can never happen without first understanding the traditions you are crossing over. One person’s exploration or expe

Yamini Kalluri

7 days ago3 min read