Ram Gopal: Interweaving Histories of Indian Dance

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Both a biography and a history, this book explores the significant role that Indian dancer Ram Gopal (1912-2003) played in bringing Indian dance to international audiences from the 1930s to the late 1960s. Almost single-handedly, Gopal changed the perception of Indian dance abroad, introducing a global audience to specificity of movement, classically trained dancers, live musicians and exquisitely detailed costumes, modelled from Indian iconography. In this much-needed study of an often-neglected figure, the author unearths a fascinating narrative about Ram Gopal, the individual and the dancer, drawing on interviews with his remaining family, costume-makers, friends, dance partners, fellow dancers and audience members. More broadly, we come to understand the culture of Indian dance at the time, including the politics of the nomenclature and of the nationalist and orientalist discourses, the rapid changes created by the demise of colonialism and the influence of Western styles of dance, such as ballet and modern, in its development.

Reviews

"The author is an established scholar and an advocate for the arts, with strong connections and understanding of the South Asian professional sector. Therefore, it is expected that [she] will make this book relevant not only to current scholars in the field, but also to the wider professional sector, widening the potential readership ... A key contribution to the field of South Asian dance studies with exciting insights in material and visual culture as related to dance ... A very interesting, rigorous and exciting publication." --Dr Elena Catalano

"A strong proposal, which is poised to make a significant contribution to the literature on the development of Indian dance by focusing on the pivotal yet understudied figure of Ram Gopal." --Professor Sitara Thobani

Author Bio

Ann R David is Emeritus Professor of Dance and Cultural Engagement at the University of Roehampton, UK. She specialises in dance anthropology and South Asian classical and popular dance and her dance training includes ballet, contemporary, folk dance, as well as Bharatanatyam and Kathak.