Reviews

Preview to Dallas Dances 2018

“With colorful costumes and a highly musical style, Tejas Dance could be the 2018 revelation”

PratibhAsa – Anthology in Dance Review

“By using a dance form so closely tied to narrative and storytelling, Tejas Dance transformed a selection of poetry into a visually stunning tribute to Indian culture, community, and humanity.”

Dallas Dances 2018 Review

“On the heels of their recent Eisemann Center performance, Tejas Dance delivers Bharatanatyam with Ardhanareeshwara, a duet between choreographers Bhuvana Venkatraman and Chintan Patel. Illustrating the unity yet distinct masculine and feminine qualities of prominent Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati, the dancers maneuver through percussive stamping, long balances on one leg, and graceful gestures. Clear, captivating, and beautifully expressive, it’s one of the evening’s best.”

Interview with Founder/Director Bhuvana Venkatraman/Preview to Dallas Dances 2018

“Venkatraman created Tejas Dance in 2014 as a way to enrich and popularize Bharatanatyam and also identify and encourage talent in the field. Venkatraman says she and Chintan Patel (artistic director of Tejas Dance) were drawn to Baratanatyam because of its vibrancy and the spiritual beauty it has to offer.”

Glimpses of Blue - Review

“For the Nrsimha avatar, Chintan was a fierce Hiranyakashipu and Bhuvana played the roles of both Prahlad and Nrsimha. The choreography of this portion was very striking and the audience applauded.”

Dance writer Emily Sese on her favorite dance performances of 2018

“Tejas Dance’s PratibhAsa: Anthology in Dance offered a welcome diversion into the world of classical Indian dance. As a duet, Bhuvana Venkatraman and Chintan Patel gave new meaning to traditional Bharatanatyam techniques and themes. The evening left me in a trance-like state—I was spellbound by the combination of untethered stomps, intricate expressions, and enchanting stories.“

Joshua L Peugh’s Dialogue, in collaboration with Tejas Dance - Review

“One of the leading Bharatanatyam companies in the DFW area, Tejas Dance fuses classical Indian techniques with contemporary themes and styles—bridging old and new worlds. These values clearly surfaced in the collaborative work between the two companies.”

The Woman Next Door – Review

Who Rules the World?

"It’s been exciting to see how power partners Bhuvana Venkatraman and Chintan Patel find innovative new ways of sharing the classical Indian technique of Bharatanatyam with contemporary audiences. "

Shivalaya – Review

Temple Movement

“This climactic finale featured a vibrant collection of awe-inspiring moments—from Patel’s agile knee spins around a hovering Venkatraman, to their buoyant coverage of the stage.”

Dallas Dances 2019 – Review

A Daughter’s Letter

“Tejas Dance was the only non-Western dance form on the bill of 11 dances, with A Daughter’s Letter. Choreographed by Bhuvana Venkatraman and performed by Chintan Patel, it used expressive, clear gestures with the stylized upper- and lower-body patterns of bharatanatyam to tell a modern, heartbreaking story. “