MITI DESAI

Founder & Creative Head at Miti Design Lab
Classical Dancer, Designer, Educator

Communication through the external medium of graphic design led Miti to an internal expression of body design, rediscovering Classical Indian Dance. Indian Dance has been the key to the artist’s return to her cultural roots, symbols and world-view resulting in an innate understanding of culture, aesthetics and its influence and inspiration in design, education, arts & the environment.

A fluidity of lines, an inner grace and innate understanding of form mark Miti’s dance. There is an absence of the need to impress or over power; only a serene surrender and worshipful devotion are the essence of her dance.

Miti has performed extensively nationally and internationally.

MOHINIATTAM

The dance expression is explored through the form of Mohiniattam.

Among the seven classical Indian dance styles; each one comes from a different state in India, with a different geometry of movement, costume, jewellery and even music; yet the principles and values are the same in all. Mohiniattam is one such form.

A dance style from Kerela (Southern India); ‘Mohiniattam’ literally means ‘the dance of the enchantress’. With a subtle and introverted aesthetic the style manifests through a circular geometry enhanced with swinging and swaying movements. With a rich mimetic tradition the form penetrates into and through the feminine energy.

The form becomes a medium to transcend from the regional traditional into the universal eternal.

MANDAKINI TRIVEDI

Miti is a disciple of danseuse Mandakini Trivedi.

A superlative performer, choreographer, writer, educationist and above all a Teacher, Mandakini is the founder and creative head of Nateshvari Dance Gurkul; a unique space which is committed to reviving the yogic traditions in Indian dance and creating dancers who can assimilate the principles of the art into their lives.

TEACHING

Teaching is integral to my practice. I am passionate about sharing the knowledge passed on to me by my teachers and my experience of the same.

Teaching and learning are interdependent; they facilitate each other. I approach teaching as a symbiotic learning process, which takes me towards a deeper understanding of the dance.

Mohiniattam Training
Workshops
Lecture Demonstrations

LECTURE OF DEMONSTRATION

Design Of Indian Dance
A lecture performance which unites DESIGN with a
presentation/ performance of classical Indian DANCE; deconstructing the structure and symbolism of classical Indian dance and culture while viewing it through the peep-hole of DESIGN.

This presentation takes form by deconstructing the elements of classical Indian Dance under the umbrella of Design; which is an exploration of geometry moving into storytelling used as a tool to communicate.

It comes alive with live performances interspersed with insights into the design of the multidimensional art form, which addresses poetry, music & movement simultaneously.

The broader message of Indian dance, Indian aesthetics and the understanding of design in the traditional Indian context is explored.

MOVEMENT DESIGN

Processes of interweaving disciplines are intrinsic to a dimension which is multilayered, irrespective of their particular contents. When the disciplines of design and dance blend, the experience is of design in motion, an aesthetic that ultimately enhances diversification. Movement Design is an expression of this experience.

Perception
Movement Design is a grammatical construction that has emerged out of an experience and exploration of the disciplines of design and dance; with an engagement of the Classical tradition of Indian dance and the contemporary tradition of design, allowing an aesthetic experience of successful integration and, at the same time harnessing and unharnessing how different cultural visions and identities manifest. This is the starting point in the conception of Movement Design. Its manifestation is a journey of an aesthetic, which is pregnant with the political, social and transcendental dimensions all at once.

Engagement
An engagement with the contemporary and the classical, in thought, design and movement; is investigated through respective independent disciplines; resulting in an interdependent and dependent experience. The existential experience of body design emerges through the form of classical Indian dance. The experience is a particular proposition verses a universal one.