Kinnari Vora

Kinnari Vora is a Chicago based dancer, choreographer, and educator. She shares stories of universal human conditions and emotions through movement, meditation, and theatrical practices. She was born and raised in India. Her contemporary works are rooted in Bharatanatyam (disciple of Sarmishtha Sarkar, India), various Indian folk dances and kalaripayattu martial arts. Her work is guided by ancestral energy, wisdom of nature and collaborative communion. Being a physical therapist and a yoga practitioner, she integrates healing practices in her dancemaking.

Kinnari is co-founder and artistic co-chair of Ishti Collective and a dancer collaborator with Surabhi Ensemble. Her works have been presented at The Art Institute of Chicago, Detroit Dance City Festival, Pivot Arts Festival, Ragdale Foundation, World Music Festival, among others; and has toured internationally to Mexico, Vietnam, Spain, Portugal, Itali, Israel and Poland. She is a 2022 Chicago Dancemakers Lab Artist.

During her residency at Ragdale, she will work on Antarabhava: a meditation on mortality, the journey of consciousness and impermanence. She will explore rituals and different cultural and societal practices related to the death transition.