Ranjana Warier is a 2012 winner of Knight Arts Challenge Miami. Below, she writes about her project, which showcases classical Indian dance through adaptations of Western fairy tales.  By Ranjana Warier

How would you describe cultural fusion in a word? “Magical” and “exotic” were among the adjectives used by those who attended the recent staging of “Anvita” presented by Rhythms School of Dance. The production, held Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center in Davie, was the culmination of months of planning, choreographing and rehearsing.

The beloved fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty” provided the backdrop for “Anvita,” but it was transformed through the complex technical framework of classical Indian dance. The work was a collaboration of six Indian dance schools: Rhythms School of Dance, Nrutyanjali School of Dance, Vanee School of Dance, Nritya Surabhi School of Dance, and Narthana Dance Academy, all from South Florida, and Navarasa Dance Academy, of Tampa. They retained their individual styles but worked together to adapt their skills to present the familiar story in an engaging East-meets-West theme. The dances and costumes delighted the audience, even bringing toddlers to the aisles of the auditorium as they mimicked the moves of the 60 performers.

“Anvita” was our most recent production, but an earlier workshop held during Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month in May also allowed me to share my love of Indian culture and dance with a broader audience. “From Bharatanatyam to Bollywood: The Journey of Indian Dance” portrayed the origins and evolution of Indian dance during a one-hour discussion that I led to foster understanding of this work.

The culture of India is one of the oldest in the world, yet one of the most difficult to comprehend. The traditions and art forms have intrigued millions of people around the globe. My work crosses cultural barriers by demystifying Indian dance, and I’m looking forward to holding several more workshops in the coming year.

One of the productions I’m planning is titled; “Samanvay (Harmony): A Closer Look at the Scintillating Dance and Music in Indian Films.” It will be an interactive dance and music demonstration that explores the evolution of India’s Bollywood and other regional films’ dance and music from 1913 to 2014. Dance and music are such a huge part of Indian films. They synthesize dance traditions and formal and folk music with Western techniques. This project will explore some of the amazing work done by legends in this field.

Indian dance styles require proper training and years of practice to master and perform. They are not often performed in the United States, due to the lack of experts here and the required time and budget commitments. Blending the multiple styles while keeping the individual characteristics intact is rarely done for a theatrical performance. This project will go even beyond that by looking in detail at the recent trends to fuse Western styles into Indian art forms.

I’ve been immersed in Indian classical dance since I was a child, but the beauty of it still fills me with wonder. It’s that magic I’m sharing through these workshops and productions.