I have danced from an early age, studying Western classical dance forms (ballet and modern). My studies took me to New York where I attended Adelphi University, The Julliard School and Empire State College (SUNY) where I completed my B.S. in Dance Therapy. I also studied improvisation, African dance, yoga, Sacred belly dance, martial arts (Pencak Silat), Balinese dance and Indian dance.
I was drawn to Bali as it was a place where worship through dance was still being performed in the temples. I also knew it to be a place where art, religion, community and life were an integrated whole. I lived there for 10 years, studying Balinese culture and dance and have taught and performed internationally. In Bali, I also developed a Holistic dance technique which combines and intergates all my studies, to encourage and support awareness, healing, and joy of movement.
After witnessing the divine beauty and transforming power of Odissi dance in the U.S. and Bali, I was compelled to travel to India. There I lived and studied in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, studying at the Orissa Dance Academy with Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, Yudistir Nayak and members of the Orissa Dance Academy. I am now a student of Sri Manoranjan Pradhan, a leading dancer and teacher from Orissa.
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I was given the name "Bhava" when I danced at the Temple of Fine Arts in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Swami, spiritual and artistic guide of the Center, asked me to show some Balinese dance. So I danced Teruna Jaya (Victorious Youth) which is full of quickly changing facial expressions and emotions. After the dance, the Swami said, "Barbara!? No, your name is Bhava!" In Sanskrit this means feeling or mood.
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| Balinese Dance | Odissi
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| Dance Healing
Visual Arts | Pilates
Reformer | Shakti Dance
To Contact Barbara, email to: bhava_dance@hotmail.com