Drasti Mody is a performer, choreographer, dance educator based in Saratoga, CA. As a performer, Drasti is known for her high energy, beautiful expressions and versatile dance training. Reflecting on her duality as an Indian-American immigrant, Drasti's styles span devotional pieces rooted in traditional Bharatanatyam to more fusion-based choreography with Western influences. Drasti is currently exploring her own artistic voice by developing a full-length work exploring themes of identity and its evolution through motherhood.

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Drasti initiated her formal teaching journey with the blessings of her Guruji Shreemati Jamuna Mitcham. She returned to her dance career as an educator to share her love and passion for dance with her community. As a mother of two, Drasti aspires to pass on the rich Indian culture and heritage more than ever.

TRAINING

Beginning her training at the age of 16 with Guruji Shreemati Jamuna Mitcham, Drasti started to share her love of Bollywood through various dance performances in the broader Indian community in NYC. Over time, the intricacy of the mudras (symbolic hand gestures), karanas (breathtaking movement phrases) and abhinaya (facial expression) observed in bharatanatyam led Drasti to begin formal training for her arangetram (performance debut) at the age of 19. In August 2004, she completed her arangetram in Flushing, Queens. Since then, Drasti continued to train with her Guruji while also exploring other dance styles including Kathak, Bollywood, Folk, Hip-hop and Indian Contemporary.

Drasti has performed with various dance companies throughout her 20+ year career. During her undergraduate career, Drasti left her mark as a co-founder of Chankaar, Boston University’s premiere South Asian fusion dance troupe. In 2008, Drasti co-founded and served as the Associate Artistic Director of The Sa Dance Company. Drasti worked as a dancer and choreographer, with performances at notable venues including The Ailey Citigroup Theater, Peabody Essex Museum, Battery Downtown Dance Festival, and more. Drasti received rave reviews from The New York Times for her performance with The Sa Dance Company at the Erasing Borders Dance Festival in downtown Manhattan: “the two young women who sustained a central duet… combined stamina, skill and wonderful glee.” In 2010, Drasti went on to perform with Aatma Performing Arts in their captivating production, Mystic India, The World Tour, including a performance in Basel, Switzerland. After settling in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2012, Drasti danced and choreographed with Nachle SF. Drasti is currently a performing artist with Ishami Dance Company.

Drasti Mody CV

ARTIST STATEMENT

My dance journey started as an escape and has grown into a purpose. A method to raise awareness, spark dialogue and create moments of deep connection for my peers and artistic community. Inspired by my dance teacher, Guruji Shreemati Jamuna Mitcham based in NYC, my versatile dance training has led me to create my own movement vocabulary that reflects my duality as an Indian American immigrant. I love weaving together the foundation of Bharatanatyam with different styles including Western contemporary influences to make work that evokes a visceral reaction to the emotions of a piece. 

As an immigrant and a mother of two, I create art that is inspired by and a reflection of my life experiences. During my motherhood journey, I found like-minded individuals, who, through deep introspective conversations, inspired me to create my current work. In Paheli: The Riddle of Motherhood I explore the identity shift women experience during the transformational phase of motherhood. With Bharatanatyam as my foundation, I make artistic choices to incorporate contemporary movements that authentically illustrate an emotion. The intention of the work is for mothers to feel seen and heard during a challenging period of life, highlighting the importance of maternal mental health. The broader goal is to create a safe space for audiences to intimately experience these nuanced journeys and foster a greater empathy and understanding. 

As I develop my artistic voice, I aim to explore themes of women’s empowerment, immigrant experiences and identity in the South Asian diaspora.