Trei
Trei ("three") is a solo work by dance artist Vidya Kotamraju, inspired by the contemplative worlds of contemporary visual artists. Blending the codified intricacy of Bharata Natyam with contemporary gesture and rhythmic play, the piece explores what becomes visible when we slow down enough to truly see. Through a choreography of sustained attention and subtle transformation, Trei invites audiences into a shared space of presence, where every glance, shift, and silence becomes charged with meaning. This is a dance about perception itself: how we look, what we miss, and how the body can become both witness and canvas.
Vidya Kotamraju
Vidya Kotamraju is a South Asian dance artist, emerging choreographer, and educator based on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations (Vancouver). She is the founder of House of Indian Dance, a platform for teaching and developing culturally rooted movement practice. Her choreography reimagines Bharata Natyam for contemporary audiences, blending classical rigor with global music, storytelling, and emotionally charged performance. Vidya’s work explores themes of identity, migration, and resilience, creating vivid journeys that bridge tradition and innovation. Her performances have been featured at the Vancouver International Dance Festival, Diwali in BC, Namaste Canada, and The Dance Centre’s Silk Route Festival, among others. She has been an Artist-in-Residence at The Dance Centre and is a recipient of the Shade of Hope Award. She is rooted in training under Jai Govinda (Canada), Bragha Bessell (India), and Sheila Kumar (India).
www.vidyadance.com
Contact:
vidya@sloan.mit.edu
Photo: Andi McLeish
Details:
Year of creation: 2024
Choreographer: Vidya Kotamraju
Key collaborators:
Soundscape: Vishnu R.
Dance, Choreography and Costume: Vidya Kotamraju
Audience Type: Elementary (Gr. 1-7), Youth (Gr. 8-12), Families, Young Adults, Adults, Seniors
Length of work: 10-25 minutes (flexible, can be adapted for space/context)
Preparation time required on site: 20 minutes setup and 20 minutes strike
Technical requirements required on-site: Performance space (min. 20’ x 20’)
Sound playback
One technician for simple cues
Warm-up space
Space required: Minimum 20’ x 20’ performance space. Adaptable to alternative spaces including galleries, studios, and site-specific venues with minimal setup.
Availability: I’m available for touring Trei throughout fall 2025, spring/summer 2026 and beyond, with flexibility for short residencies, one-off performances, or multi-stop engagements. I’m especially interested in site-sensitive or unconventional venues, galleries, studios, outdoor spaces, where perception and intimacy can be reimagined.
My objectives are to:
1. Introduce Bharata Natyam as a contemporary form to new and cross-cultural audiences,
2. Build relationships with artists and communities outside Vancouver, and
3. Create dialogue around land-based performance, diasporic identity, and abstraction in South Asian dance.
Community Engagement
In addition to performance, I offer a flexible suite of engagement options tailored to diverse audiences, ranging from professional artists to intergenerational community groups. All activities can be adapted to theatres, schools, galleries, studios, or outdoor spaces.
Workshops & Classes
Moving With Intention: Bharatanatyam-rooted workshop exploring rhythm, breath, and stillness as compositional tools (all levels)
The Story in the Gesture: Mudra, gaze, and meaning, an interactive introduction to classical gesture and expression
Embodied Attention: Site-responsive movement session focused on slowness, perception, and relationship to place
Dialogues & Artist Talks
Dancing Lineage + Land: Post-show conversation exploring diasporic identity, ancestral aesthetics, and Indigenous land relations
From Tradition to Abstraction: Artist talk unpacking the process behind Trei and reimagining Bharata Natyam in contemporary performance
Youth & Community Offerings
Intro to Bharata Natyam: Accessible movement class for youth or new learners with rhythm games and storytelling
Intergenerational Exchange: Movement + memory workshop for elders and youth, exploring gesture across generations
All offerings emphasize accessibility, cultural context, and relational learning. I welcome co-design with host organizations to align with local community needs and priorities.