The 92NY Harkness Dance Center will present What Flows Between Us: A Festival of India’s Classical Arts in Cross-Cultural Dialogue on Saturday, Feb. 21, featuring a full day of performances, demonstrations and markets, culminating in the New York premiere of SPEAK.
Curated by kathak artist, choreographer and 92NY Artist in Residence Rachna Nivas, the festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and brings together women artists from North and South Indian classical music, dance, percussion and poetry. Vendor markets offering traditional foods and artisanal goods will be open throughout the day. The evening performance of SPEAK begins at 7 p.m. in Kaufmann Concert Hall.
The festival is part of Women Move the World, the 92NY’s 2025–26 Harkness Mainstage Series.
Nivas said the event highlights the depth and discipline required for meaningful collaboration across artistic traditions.
“Collaboration is not a shortcut or a gimmick; at its highest level, it is an act of integrity — the culmination of years of disciplined study,” Nivas said. “Only from that depth can artists recognize shared currents without erasing difference.”
The festival takes its title from the concept of fluid, expansive feminine energy and explores the distinct classical traditions of North and South India, as well as their shared resonances with Western classical and jazz forms, including rhythm, improvisation and poetry.
New York Premiere of SPEAK
The day concludes with SPEAK, a collaboration between kathak and American tap that brings together Nivas, Fulbright scholar Rukhmani Mehta, MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance and tap legend Dormeshia. Developed over several years and expanded through a Works & Process residency, the work weaves rhythm, storytelling and dance into a shared cross-cultural conversation.
Since its 2017 U.S. premiere, SPEAK has toured extensively in the United States and India, earning acclaim for its virtuosity and exploration of the historical parallels between kathak and tap.
Festival Highlights
The festival will feature performances, demonstrations and collaborations from leading women artists, including:
- Saili Oak (San Francisco) — Hindustani vocalist performing traditional repertoire and selections from her album Beyond, accompanied by a Western classical string quartet.
- Nirmala Rajasekar (Minneapolis) — Carnatic veena master performing solo works and collaborative compositions with her daughter, vocalist and composer Shruthi Rajasekar.
- Yamini Kalluri (NYC) — Kuchipudi soloist performing with The Kritya Music Ensemble and presenting a collaborative work with Western classical pianist Jiahao Han.
- Nandana Sen — Actor and writer offering readings of her mother Nabaneeta Dev Sen’s poetry with live kathak interpretation.
- Ramona Sylvan (Toronto) — Tabla artist leading an interactive tabla demonstration and an all-women percussion showcase featuring ghatam artist Samyuktha Sreeram and mridangam artist Shubha Chandramouli.
What Flows Between Us aims to uplift classical traditions while fostering cross-genre dialogue rooted in mastery, reverence and artistic integrity.
Festival Schedule
Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 92NY
11:00 am – 1:00 pm | Buttenwieser Hall
Musical Performance
Featuring Saili Oak, Sahana Shravan, Dylan Hamme, Sunjay Jayaram, Jackie Hager, Nirmala Rajasekar, Satyaprakash Mishra
Musical Performance
Featuring Nirmala Rajasekar with Shruthi Rajasekar accompanied by Samyuktha Sreeram, Shubha Chandramouli
Followed by Artist Conversation
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Warburg Lounge
Community Lunch
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm | Buttenwieser Hall
Dance, Poetry & Percussion Performances
Featuring Yamini Kalluri, Kuchipudi dancer with live ensemble
Nandana Sen poetry reading with live kathak accompaniment
4:15 pm – 5:15 pm | Venue TBA
Interactive Percussion Demo + All-Women Percussion Battle
Ramona Sylvan, Samyuktha Sreeram, Shubha Chandramouli
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm | Warburg Lounge
Community Dinner
7:00 pm | Kaufmann Concert Hall
SPEAK — New York Premiere
Vendor marketplace open throughout the day.
••••• Message Center••••
Follow us on social media: Facebook • Instagram • Threads • X • Bluesky • Tiktok • Reddit
Looking for news and events beyond NYC? Finding Connecticut and Finding The Hudson Valley have the latest happenings just north of the city!
Let’s create with Victory Designs
Need help with your creative needs? Our team has 20+ years of experience with Adobe, Shopify, and WordPress, and we offer affordable graphic design and web services. Let Victory Designs assist you with bringing your ideas to life.
Share your New York City experiences on instagram #findingnewyorkcity
Save on CBD!
My name is Jillian, and I am the editor here at Finding New York City. When I came across New England Hemp Farm a few years ago, I had recently had my ankle fused. New England Hemp Farm’s Sports Relief Rub and 500 MG Full Spectrum CBD Oil have helped with everyday and weather pain.
Finding quality products that can improve your day-to-day life can be tough, but with New England Hemp Farm, getting a good night’s sleep or relieving your pain and anxiety has never been easier. Plus, using our code NYC35, you’ll save 35% on your first purchase. Let us help you find relief and savings with New England Hemp Farm.
Products we use here at Finding New York City include Sports Relief Rub • 500 MG Full Spectrum CBD Oil • Pet Drops• Pet Treats