PERFORMER

In 1991 she organized, managed and performed in a successful 32-city tour of North America by the Narasimhacharis and their musicians. In 1995, she commissioned from her gurus a unique, solo, thematic program entitled Leeye Parabrahmani - Absorption in the Absolute. This work on the nine varieties of religious devotion perfectly reflects Monica's approach to dance as an expression of Spirit, and has proven to be deeply moving to both Indian and American audiences.

In 2003, Monica, several colleagues, and 12 of her senior students toured with another of Sri Narasimhachari's choreographic masterpieces, the dance-drama Megha Sandesha - The Cloud Messenger, based on the poetry of Kalidasa.

Monica's dancing has been praised by critics for its perfection of line, clarity of footwork and depth of expression. Her understanding of the cultural and spiritual components of Indian dance enables her to perform with authenticity. For concerts in the USA, her eloquent explanations prior to performing each piece, help to guide audiences to a deeper appreciation of this traditional art form. Her academic background in South Asian Studies combined with personal experience as an American growing up in Asia make her uniquely suited as an interpreter of Indian culture and classical arts for Western audiences.

In 2005, Monica created Deivika Nrityam, a thematic dance program on the subject of dance as a means for union with the Divine. In 2006, she premiered Subhaashitam: Parables from India, a unique dance-drama on the theme of universal human values. With choreography by Sri M.V. Narasimhachari, this work uses parables from ancient Indian literature to highlight the universality of values such as honesty and compassion.