Kissing the Earth

Kissing the Earth is an evening-length dance theater project connecting us to Mother Earth and ancestral memory. Inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh walking meditation and Chief Seattle—"The earth doesn't belong to men; men belong to the earth"—the work explores environmental consciousness, stewardship, and collective memory.

Featuring an intergenerational cast—from my dance student - Nishika Jani to my dance guru Sarmishtha Sarkar—and live sound score by Bob Garrett, the project evolves through collaborative work-in-progress sharings, incorporating spoken words, movement, Warli painting, and video projection.

Premiered at Steppenwolf Theaters Lookout Series in April 2024.Past excerpts appeared at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago) and Links Hall.