Ashwaty Chennat
Dance
Chicago, IL
Ashwaty Chennat is a movement artist and educator whose interdisciplinary and cultural exchange work sows seeds for empathy-building experiences. Her work considers identity, diaspora narratives, and adaptations. She is a principal artist with Mandala Arts, where she has choreographed contemporary dance rooted in Bharatnatyam form and collaborated with some of her favorite Chicago souls. Her work has been supported and recognized by Chicago Dancemakers Forum, Pivot Arts, 3Arts and the City of Chicago. Ashwaty’s work has been presented at Chicago Symphony Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Logan Center for the Arts, Links Hall, The Music Box Theatre, Pivot Arts Festival, Bridge Dance Festival, and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
Ashwaty`s recent works include "Moods of Nayika" an episodic film - with Abhijeet and Transit Productions - featuring Bharatanatyam and drag performance as a queer exploration of classical Indian frameworks; "Beaten Path" an ongoing collaboration with producer and jazz percussionist, Alvin Cobb Jr. which centers mental health and its role in their childhood homes through non-verbal expression; "Mandala Makers Festival" an interdisciplinary festival that supports artists identifying with South Asian culture and activates community in the historic Devon Avenue.
Ashwaty is grateful to all of her life mentors and teachers, Pranita Nayar, Veerendra Prasad, Laksha Dantran and Sudha Chandrasekhar.
