Bala Sarasvati, Artist, Director, Choreographer, Movement Specialist

MFA, MA, BFA, B.S., Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) 

Jane Willson Professor in the Arts, University of Georgia (1991-2022)

 

• Contemporary Dance Technique and Performance Training master classes and residencies   

• Collaborative Interdisciplinary Arts and Multimedia Concert Production

• Choreographer, modern and contemporary modern dance  

• Choreographer, integrating contemporary and aerial dance for 20 years (2017 DANCE TEACHER magazine article)

• Creator and editor of film and video mapping, specializing in live performance projections

• Artistic Director, Dance Company, Concert Performances, Full Evening Multimedia Shows and Lecture Demonstrations

• Teacher, Dance Improvisation, Dance Composition and Technology Interface for Dance

• Certified Movement Analyst, Laban Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, NYC

• Graduate teacher, Nacioinale Nacionale Universidad, Heredia, Costa Rica, Laban/Bartenieff and somatic technique courses 

• Specialist in Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals application to dance and aerial dance training 

• *Certified Yoga Trapeze teacher and assistant to Lucas Rockwood, founder and Managing Director of YOGABODY® in certification programs held in Georgia, USA

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Bala Sarasvati, Artist, artistic director and choreographer with expertise in contemporary dance technique, aerial dance and somatic movement theory and application. She holds M.F.A., M.A. degrees in dance from The Ohio State University,  Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) from Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies,  NYC and B.F.A., B.S degrees from the University of Utah. In addition, a Certified Yoga Trapeze Instructor.

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Bala served as University of Georgia Jane Willson Professor in the Arts through 2022, founding artistic director of CORE Contemporary and Aerial Dance. Professor of contemporary technique, dance composition, dance production, improvisation, technology interface, aerial yoga trapeze  and Laban Movement Analysis. Bala has taught and/or presented choreography throughout the U.S and China, and internationally in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, England, France and Taiwan: and guest faculty for Univerisdad Nacional Graduate Dance Program, Heredia, Costa Rica (2007-2022). She has served as faculty member for the Jose Limon School and Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, NYC. Her choreography was selected for Seattle Bumbershoot Arts Festivals, Piccolo Spoleto Festivals, LIMS MOSAIC, National Dance Therapy Association, National Dance Association, National American College Dance Festival, National Society for Literature and Science and several World Dance Alliance Americas Conference and Festival Assemblies. As Founding Artistic Director of  CORE Contemporary and Aerial Dance (formerly) CORE Concert Dance Company, she has created numerous multimedia and interdisciplinary shows, integrating aerial dance, film and video mapping and engaged in numerous collaborative ventures. In 2021, Bala produced, filmed, directed a green screen film T’Apped, in collaboration with the Compañía Nacional de Danza Costa Rica (CND) in collaboration with Mario Vircha, former artistic director and performer of the CND company. Bala currently serves on Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies board and has served on the advisory boards for UGA Ideas for Creative Exploration (ICE) and and the US-China Cultural and Education Foundation. Bala's integrated aerial dance training and creative production at UGA Dance was featured in DANCE TEACHER magazine "Bala Sarasvati Sends Students Soaring at the University of Georgia" (2017). YouTube: @Baladance Channel Instagram: @coreaerialdance

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Faculty Positions

The University of Georgia Department of Dance, Jane Willson Professor in the Arts (1990-2022)

Univerisdad Nacional, Graduate Dance Program, Heredia, Costa Rica, Guest Faculty (2007-2022) 

 

Other Faculty Positions

The Ohio State University

Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, NYC

Laban Certification Programs in NYC and Seattle, WA

José Limón Institute, NYC, NY

Queens College,  NY

South Carolina Summer Dance Conservatory 

Winthrop University

Dance Centre Seattle

Bill Evans Summer Institute of Dance

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Guest Artist Residencies

Compañía Nacional de Danza, San Jose, Costa Rica

University of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica

Danza Univeristaria (company), San Jose, Costa Rica

Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) - 92nd St Y NYC 

Centro Coreografico- Rio de Janeiro

Univerisdad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica

Sichuan International Dance Conservatory, Chengdu, China

Tsoying Performing Arts High School, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Brigham Young University

Florida State University

Emory University

José Limón Institute, NYC, NY

Minnesota Dance Alliance - Dance Educators

Ohio State University

Princeton University

Pacific Lutheran University

Queens College, City University of New York

University of Minnesota, Duluth

University of South Carolina

Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose Costa Rica

Western Washington State University

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Pre- Professional Instruction 

UGA Festival Dance Camp annually, Mitch Flanders, Director, Griffin Ballet Theatre, (choreographer and faculty, annually)

Choreographer and Faculty for Brenau University Summer Dance Intensive, John Streit, Director (choreographer and faculty 2022 23)

Gwinnett Ballet Theatre School, Suwanee, Georgia, guest instructor

Griffin Ballet Theatre, Griffin, Georgia, choreographer

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Jacksonville, FL, chorreographer and guest instructor)

Davison School Fine Arts Magnet School, Augusta, Georgia, presenter and guest instructor)

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Dance Technique Approach

Movement fundamentals to promote muscular balance, range of motion, strength, mobility and ease. Approaches, methods, physical practice enhance movement efficiency, mobility, momentum and dynamic alignment. "Extreme" shape shifting, level change variations, inversions & off vertical transitions with gradated rotation and other applied 3-dimensional ROM processes.

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Yoga Trapeze Approach

Applications include 1) YOGABODY Naturals Yoga Trapeze pedagogy 2) enhancing aerial dance 3) increasing flexibility and strength in dance performance 4) overall conditioning, strengthening and improved balance, control and flow for a wide range of athletes.

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Aerial Dance and Aerial Arts Approach

Safety, increasing strength, flexibility, flow and developing skillset are a must. Attention to details in the transitions, shape, dynamic phrasing, spatial clarity and body articulation, which clarify the final artistic expression. Technical skills in moving on-and-off apparatus - from the floor to the air to the floor - is critical. When creating aerial dance, the ultimate goal (intention, design and purpose) is to convey the images, feelings, emotional/spiritual connections through story or abstract design. Combining contemporary dance with aerial arts is central to the practice. I have explored and created for over twenty years - engaged in moving explorations and focus (and working with experts; and numerous hours of skill development and improvisational workshopping spanning several aerial apparatus - including silks, slings, lyra (hoops), nets, trapeze, bungee and ropes. 

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Bala's integrated aerial dance training and production was featured in DANCE TEACHER magazine: Bala Sarasvati Sends Students Soaring at the University of Georgia (2017).

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