We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Surabhi Bharadwaj a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Surabhi, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
For me, taking risks has been about trusting myself, even when my goals seemed ambitious or unconventional. It’s been a process of stepping beyond traditional expectations to create meaningful art that resonates with contemporary society while staying rooted in tradition.
My ability to take risks has been inspired by my mother. She approaches challenges with an unwavering belief that nothing is impossible, and while I don’t always match her courage, her resilience has been a guiding force for me.
One pivotal moment in my journey was deciding whether to pursue a Master’s in Dance Design and Production or to focus solely on my performing career. Choosing the Master’s program temporarily slowed my growth as a solo performer but opened doors to freelancing as a lighting designer and profoundly influenced my understanding of dance from multiple perspectives.
Key projects have further shaped my approach to risks. My debut production, Ashrutam – The Unheard Voice, addressed a sensitive subject—the lives of hereditary Devadasi artists—alongside a large cast, an ambitious budget, and intricate sets. While daunting, it reinforced the value of trusting my vision.
Similarly, my solo work The Maze was a leap into unexplored territory, blending interactive creative technology with movements, music, theater, poetry, and props. It required me to confront my own biases while exploring themes like gender politics and body autonomy. Premiering The Maze alongside my ensemble work Finding Joy as part of a double bill added complexity but taught me the value of juxtaposing diverse narratives.
Looking ahead, I’m curating the SynergyArts Community Festival to bring proscenium art into accessible outdoor spaces in an interactive way, further blending tradition and innovation.
Risk-taking hasn’t always led to the desired outcome, but each experience has expanded my artistic voice and resilience. I’ve learned to let go of the fear of failure and focus on growth, drawing inspiration from women in my life who persist against all odds. For me, risks often mark the beginning of transformative journeys, opening new doors and deepening my connection with Bharatanatyam and the communities it touches.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, educator, curator, and lighting designer. As the Artistic Director of Siddhi Creative and Siddhi Dance Academy, I am deeply committed to honoring the classical roots of Bharatanatyam while reimagining its possibilities in today’s world.
What excites me most about my work is its role as a bridge—connecting tradition with innovation, personal stories with universal themes, and the stage with the community. Bharatanatyam, with its intricate storytelling and rich history, provides a powerful language to explore imaginative, realistic, and futuristic ideas that resonate across cultures and generations.
My latest solo work, The Maze, exemplifies this vision. It challenges conventional notions of womanhood through a multidisciplinary performance that weaves movement, music, theater, poetry, text, and interactive creative technology. By navigating the complexities of societal expectations placed on women, this deeply personal work invites audiences to engage with pressing social issues. [More details and the collaborators information – https://www.siddhicreative.org/the-maze]
My current ensemble work, Finding Joy, celebrates the beauty of everyday life by sharing individual experiences of navigating the modern world. It reflects the resilience and shared experiences of our times, particularly the fast-paced pressures of Silicon Valley life, while remaining rooted in the timeless expressions of Bharatanatyam. This piece stands out for its innovative use of moving props as part of the dance and the incorporation of rap in its music! It underscores how traditional art forms can tell contemporary stories in powerful and unexpected ways.
More details and the collaborators information – [https://www.siddhicreative.org/finding-joy]
Beyond performances, education and community engagement are central to my practice. Through Siddhi Dance Academy, I train students not only in technique but also in creative expression and collaboration, helping them connect with Bharatanatyam in ways that are meaningful to their lives. One-on-one mentoring sessions have been especially enriching, allowing me to support students in their unique artistic journeys.
Starting in 2025, I’m thrilled to be curating the SynergyArts Community Festival, an initiative designed to make proscenium art more accessible to the public. This festival will serve as a vibrant platform for artists, students, and art lovers to come together in an interactive and inclusive setting.
Ultimately, what drives me is the belief that art has the power to create dialogue, foster understanding, and spark transformation. Whether through my performances, teaching, or curatorial projects, I aim to connect with people and demonstrate the enduring relevance of Bharatanatyam in a constantly evolving world.
As a fiscally sponsored artist through Dancers’ Group, a nonprofit organization, I am currently raising funds to bring this vision to life. Donations are tax-deductible and will support initiatives like the SynergyArts Community Festival while helping expand and present The Maze and Finding Joy at more venues. You can contribute here: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/NDUyMjg=.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Reflecting on my journey, the three things that have had the most significant impact are:
1. Respecting the Downtime:
After a major event or performance, I often experience a wave of emotions that can be difficult to manage. I find myself comparing my progress to others and slipping into self-doubt, focusing on what I haven’t done or where I’ve gone wrong. However, over time, I’ve learned that downtime is just as crucial—if not more so—than the times when we’re performing at our peak. I’ve learned to acknowledge these emotions without allowing them to consume me. Taking time to rest, spend quality moments with family, and support fellow artists helps me recharge and refocus. This downtime naturally energizes me and gives me the clarity to set new goals for the future.
Advice: Don’t rush through your down periods. Embrace them as necessary phases in the creative process. Use this time to reconnect with yourself, your loved ones, and your community.
2. Resilience and Adaptability:
The ability to stay focused and move forward, especially in the face of setbacks, has been vital to my growth. As an artist, the path is rarely smooth, and setbacks are inevitable. For example, just three weeks before The Maze premiered, the creative technologist I had been working with unexpectedly dropped out of the project. I had to scramble to find new collaborators, all while managing the complexities of a double-bill premiere. Resilience helped me stay grounded in the bigger picture and adjust quickly to the challenges. My perseverance allowed me to bring together a new team of amazing collaborators just in time to make the project a success.
Advice: View setbacks as learning opportunities. They often lead you to new connections, innovative solutions, and valuable lessons. Trust your ability to adapt and stay focused on your long-term goals.
3. Community and Collaboration:
Art is never created in isolation. Building relationships with fellow artists, collaborators, and communities has been central to my development. Through collaboration, I’ve gained new perspectives, learned new skills, and discovered more expansive ways of creating. Engaging with others and involving the community in the creative process ensures that the work resonates deeply and meaningfully with audiences.
Advice: Invest in building a network of inspiring people. Collaboration may be intimidating at first, but it’s one of the best ways to broaden your artistic horizons. Engage with diverse communities, as their feedback and involvement will not only enrich your work but help you grow as an artist.
Taking creative risks has been transformative in shaping my artistic voice. While stepping into unknown territory can be uncomfortable, it’s essential for growth and innovation in any art form. Start small if needed, but make sure you’re constantly pushing yourself to try new things, explore unfamiliar mediums, and embrace failure as part of the learning curve. Growth as an artist takes time, and the road can be winding. Keep learning, stay curious, and trust that each step—no matter how small—is part of your larger artistic evolution.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Several books have played an important role in my development, especially when it comes to managing time, prioritizing, and improving my communication. These books are often my go-to for motivation and realignment, and I like to listen to them as audiobooks while cooking, cleaning, or driving. Here are a few that have really resonated with me:
1. Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish
This book teaches you how to recognize moments that could transform your trajectory and reshape how you navigate the critical space between stimulus and response. It helps me stay mindful of how I react to situations and provides tools for making better decisions by focusing on clarity and rational thought. The biggest takeaways for me are ‘Most errors in judgment happen when we don’t know we are supposed to be exercising judgement’; ‘Avoiding responsibility is a recipe for misery’; ‘Bad judgment won’t be felt until they are too large to ignore and so are the small improvements that we make in judgment’.
2. Atomic Habits by James Clear
Clear’s book provides actionable advice on building good habits and breaking bad ones by understanding the biology and psychology behind habits. It’s given me a new framework for thinking about progress and success, emphasizing that small, consistent changes lead to long-term transformation. This book has helped me rethink how I approach daily habits and has made me more intentional about my time and energy.
3. Think Faster, Talk Smarter by Matt Abrahams
This book is a great tool for improving communication, especially in spontaneous situations. Abrahams offers practical techniques that help you think and speak more effectively in real-time, which has been especially useful for me, given my anxiety around speaking. It’s helped me manage moments of uncertainty or pressure, enabling me to communicate more clearly and confidently.
4. Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
This reimagined retelling of the Ramayana from Kaikeyi’s lens is one of my favorite novels. It taught me the power of perspective, showing how personal, historical, and mythical stories can be seen in different lights. The way each perspective can impact you is fascinating, and I find this deeply inspiring as an artist.
These books have provided me with valuable wisdom across various aspects of my life. I hope you, too, find inspiration in these works!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.siddhicreative.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surabhi.bharadwaj/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/surabhi.bharatanatyam/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/surabhibharadwaj/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SurabhiBharadwaj
Image Credits
PC: Abhinav Athreya, Kyle Adler Photography, Santhosh Selvaraj (PratibimbCreative), Swagato Basumallick, and Shaale,
