Jan. 19, 2025

Dance of International Relations | Urmimala Sarkar Munsi

A true pleasure to have spoken to a wonderful person and industry leader!

Established as an independent, non-profit organization, WDA-AP originated as the Asia Pacific Dance Alliance in Hong Kong in 1988. It later became part of the global body, World Dance Alliance (WDA), founded in 1990 by Carl Wolz. In 1993, the name of the Asia-Pacific Center was changed to WDA Asia-Pacific to reflect its relationship to the global body. Tasked with serving as a primary voice for dance and dancers throughout the Asia-Pacific region, the WDA-AP encourages the exchange of ideas and the awareness of dance in all its forms.

Led formerly by president, Urmimala Sarkar Munsi (now Anna Chan), who is an associate Professor of Theatre and Performance Studies at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. She is a PhD holder in Social Anthropology, specializing in Dance Studies and the socio-cultural context of tribal and folk dance. Beside her principle area of work on body, dance and Society, her research interest is in gender and performance, documentation of living traditions, and performance as politics.

Continuing a brand new season and month of Dance Politics, this episode discussed the expanding global performing arts landscape, how to fortify international relations and what the future holds for representation in dance. Ready to discover the diplomat within you? Join us as we foreground dance in the background!

Soundtracks:

Birds - Tyler Twombly
Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
Coverless book - MYAUDIOVISION
Ever flowing - ItsWatR

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Chapters

02:08 - Introduction

10:23 - Setting of visible and common goals across international borders

23:48 - vulnerability of the young and emerging dancers

37:04 - The role of an organization needs to be updated

Urmimala Sarkar Munsi

Educator / Author

Urmimala Sarkar Munsi is an associate Professor of Theatre and Performance Studies at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. She is a Social Anthropologist, specialised in dance Studies. Beside her principle area of work on body, dance and Society, her research interest is in gender and performance, documentation of living traditions, and performance as politics. She is a choreographer and dancer trained at the Uday Shankar India Culture Centre. Her recent choreography "Mohakabber Owpekkhay" (Waiting for the Epic Poem) was commissioned by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in collaboration with Shadhona, Dhaka, and performed by dancers from Bangladesh at the Shilpakala Academy on the Independence Day of Bangladesh.

Her publications include ‘Engendering Performance: Indian Women Performers Searching for Identity’, co-authored with B. Dutt (Sage publishers, 2010), ‘Traversing Traditions: Celebrating Dance in India’, co-edited with S. Burridge (Routledge, 2009), ‘Dance: Transcending Borders’, edited (Tulika Books, 2008), and many journal articles and chapters in edited books.

Urmimala is formerly the Vice President of World Dance Alliance – Asia Pacific, and the Network Co – Chair for World Dance Alliance, Research and Documentation.