She is a Bad Dancer

Choreography: Dr. Kaustavi Sarkar

Premiere: September 30 2017, UNC Charlotte Dance Faculty Concert, Charlotte, NC, USA

Performed By: Dr. Hans Utter and Dr. Kaustavi Sarkar

Notes: She is a Bad Dancer is an original Odissi-rooted choreography by Kaustavi Sarkar that plays with identity, perception, and the conventions of classical dance. The choreography juxtaposes Odissi’s refined gestural language with self-aware theatricality, challenging audiences’ preconceptions about technical “flaws” and artistic intention, while embedding cultural commentary within movement. Accompanied by live sitar, the piece also reflects Sarkar’s broader interest in cross-disciplinary and media-infused dance creation, foregrounding narrative play and embodied critique in her performance practice.