Chai-Side Chats

S4E2: Navigating the ever-evolving journey of a Bharatanatyam dancer, featuring Navya Maitri Konda

In this interview episode of Chai-Side Chats, our host Aishwarya is in conversation with Navya Maitri Konda about the various aspects, challenges, strengths, and growing edges in the journey of a Bharatanatyam dancer, including discussions on motivation, discipline, learning, practice, and performance of one's craft as an artist. The episode concludes with an experiential activity in which Navya and Aishwarya explore their (artistic) identities further through visual art.
Watch full episode on YouTube (including experiential activity) here
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IG: @chaisidechatsFB: @chaisidechats
About Navya Maitri KondaIG: @navyamaitriYouTube: @navyamaitrikonda3233 
About Aishwaryahttps://www.aishwaryasubramanian.com

S4E1: The Balancing Act of Honing & Bridging Forms in Interdisciplinary Dance, featuring Kamala Devam and Asha Rowland

In this season 4 premiere episode of Chai-Side Chats, our host Aishwarya is in conversation with two interdisciplinary artists Kamala Devam and Asha Rowland and speaks with them about their creative process of honing their craft as dancers and the balancing act of bridging multiple dance styles in their hybrid choreography work.
Watch full video episode on YouTube here
Follow Chai-Side Chats on social media!
IG: @chaisidechatsFB: @chaisidechats
About the Guest Artists:
Kamala Devamhttps://kamaladevamcompany.comIG: @kamaladevamco  @kamaladevamcompany7131 
Asha Rowland https://asharowland.weebly.com IG: @asha.d.rowland  @asharowland 
About Aishwaryahttps://www.aishwaryasubramanian.com

S3E8: Creativity and Conformity in Artistic Practice

In this season finale solo episode of Chai-Side Chats, our host Aishwarya talks about intersections between creativity and conformity in artistic practice. The episode also explores questions around what it means to conform to a particular art form, along with a discussion on the impact of social media and current trends on artistic expression.
About Aishwarya
Aishwarya is an interdisciplinary practitioner, artist, mental health therapist, expressive arts healer, and podcast/talk show host. You can learn more about her work and offerings on her website.
Follow Chai-Side Chats on Social Media!
IG: @chaisidechats
FB: @chaisidechats
YouTube (Video/Interview Episodes)

S3E7: Self-care and Burnout in Artists and Creatives

In this solo audio-only episode of Chai-Side Chats, our host Aishwarya discusses some of the signs and possible reasons for burnout in artists and creatives. She offers insight on how to develop a personalized self-care plan from her perspective and experience as both an artist and a mental health therapist.
About Aishwarya
Aishwarya is an interdisciplinary practitioner, artist, mental health therapist, expressive arts healer, and podcast/talk show host. You can learn more about her work and offerings on her website.
Follow Chai-Side Chats on Social Media!
IG: @chaisidechats
FB: @chaisidechats
YouTube (Video/Interview Episodes)

S3E6: Culture, Community, Responsibility, & Creating Solo Work as South Asian Dancers in the Diaspora

In this episode of Chai-Side Chats, our host Aishwarya is joined by two prolific artists - Farah Yasmeen Shaikh and Mishka Mukherji - in a discussion around culture and community as South Asian dancers in the diaspora. They also talk about themes related to one's responsibility as an arts educator and the guest artists share their processes when it comes to creating solo dance work. As always, the episode concludes with an interactive and introspective experiential activity with the guest artists (experiential activity is available to watch in video version of the episode linked below).
Originally premiered on YouTube on February 24, 2023Watch full video episode on YouTube here
Follow Chai-Side Chats on social media!
IG: @chaisidechatsFB: @chaisidechats
About the Guest Artists:
Farah Yasmeen Shaikhhttps://nooranidance.comIG: @farahyasmeenshaikh
Mishka Mukherji https://mayurdance.org IG: @mayur.dance
About Aishwaryahttps://www.aishwaryasubramanian.com

S3E5: Trust in Creativity and in the Creative Process

In this solo episode of Chai-Side Chats, Aishwarya discusses ways to build and rebuild trust in oneself when it comes to creativity and the creative process. She explores reasons (such as trauma, self-doubt, a strong inner critic) contributing to why folks may have lost a sense of trust in themselves  and how to work towards addressing them as they manifest through creative blocks and challenges.
About Aishwarya
Aishwarya is an interdisciplinary practitioner, artist, mental health therapist, expressive arts healer, and podcast/talk show host. You can learn more about her work and offerings on her website.
Follow Chai-Side Chats on Social Media!
IG: @chaisidechats
FB: @chaisidechats
YouTube (Video/Interview Episodes)

S3E4: Deconstructing the Creative Process in Collaborative Work, featuring Snigdha Venkataramani and Ganesh Vasudeva

In this episode of Chai-Side Chats, our host Aishwarya is in conversation with singer-dancer Snigdha Venkataramani and Bharatanatyam dancer Ganesh Vasudeva about themes related to clarifying one's artistic voice/vision, exploring and navigating artist identities, and deconstructing decision-making and the creative process in collaborative work. The episode ends with an experiential activity in which the guest artists explore storytelling through reflective movement (experiential activity is available to watch in video version of the episode linked below).
Originally premiered on YouTube on December 2, 2022Watch full video episode on YouTube here
Follow Chai-Side Chats on social media!
IG: @chaisidechatsFB: @chaisidechats
About the Guest Artists:
Snigdha VenkataramaniIG: @snigdha_layadhwaniFB: @layadhwaniYouTube: @layadhwaniacademyofperform3665
Ganesh VasudevaIG: @ganesh.p.vasudevaFB: @ganesh.p.vasudevahttps://www.ganeshvasudeva.com
About Aishwaryahttps://www.aishwaryasubramanian.com

S3E3: Finding Freedom in the Creative Process Part 2 - Action

In this follow-up to the first solo episode of Chai-Side Chats Season 3, Aishwarya continues with the topic of finding freedom in the creative process by speaking about ways to take action in moving towards authentic creative expression as artists/creatives, including a consideration of the impact of deadlines on the creative process and how to move from a place of stuckness and towards action. As always, the episode ends with an experiential activity offering to reflect on habits and routines in one's own creative life.
About Aishwarya
Aishwarya is an interdisciplinary practitioner, artist, mental health therapist, expressive arts healer, and podcast/talk show host. You can learn more about her work and offerings on her website.
Follow Chai-Side Chats on Social Media!
IG: @chaisidechats
FB: @chaisidechats
YouTube (Video/Interview Episodes)

S3E2: Navigating Motherhood, Dance Education, & Privilege as Bharatanatyam Dancers in the Diaspora, featuring Surabhi Bharadwaj and Nitya Narasimhan

In this first interview episode of Chai-Side Chats Season 3, our host Aishwarya is in conversation with Bharatanatyam dancers Surabhi Bharadwaj and Nitya Narasimhan about their experiences with balancing motherhood and their artistry, their approaches to teaching dance in the diaspora, and navigating privilege as practitioners of an appropriated art form. The episode concludes with a reflective experiential activity that takes the guest artists and viewers/listeners into an exploration of their internal worlds.
Originally premiered on YouTubeWatch full video episode on YouTube here
Follow Chai-Side Chats on social media!
IG: @chaisidechatsFB: @chaisidechats
About the Guest Artists:
Surabhi Bharadwajhttps://www.surabhibharadwaj.com IG: @surabhi.bharadwajYouTube: @Surabhi Bharadwaj
Nitya Narasimhanhttps://nityanarasimhan.comIG: @nittuwit YouTube: @Nitya Narasimhan
About Aishwaryahttps://www.aishwaryasubramanian.com

S3E1: Finding Freedom in the Creative Process Part 1 - Getting Unstuck

In this first solo episode of Chai-Side Chats Season 3, Aishwarya talks about the process of finding freedom in creativity and artistic practice. Using metaphors and experiential activities as offerings for listeners to expand their definitions and experiences of creativity, the episode outlines some tips and tricks for acknowledging resistance and overcoming stuckness, which is the first step towards finding freedom in creative expression.
About Aishwarya
Aishwarya is an interdisciplinary practitioner, artist, mental health therapist, expressive arts healer, and podcast/talk show host. You can learn more about her work and offerings on her website.
Follow Chai-Side Chats on Social Media!
IG: @chaisidechats
FB: @chaisidechats