Shyama Iyer
Shyama loves creating new, thoughtful work. Her style often has organic themes, aesthetic balance, extreme attention to detail, and utilizes Indian-inspired processes.
Journeys
December 2022
Performer / Choreographer
Journeys is a dance-play about finding home. Based off of diary entries made by Shyama's mother, the choreography tells the story of the various emotions that her mother faced as she journeyed from India to the United States. Excitement as she packed her possessions and flew to a new country, loneliness in the new city, and new peace as she settled into a new rhythm.
Featuring: Gautham Umasankar (violin) Maanasa Nandigam (Vocal) Roshan Pallakal (Mridungam)
Re-Bloom
December 2021
Composer / Choreographer
“The rose is a rose from the time it is a seed to the time it dies. Within it, at all times, it contains its whole potential. It seems to be constantly in the process of change: Yet at each state, at each moment, it is perfectly all right as it is.” – Paulo Coelho
Featuring: Padmapriya Viswakumar
Ornaments
October 2021
Director / Choreographer
Combining the ornamented asymmetry of the French Rococo style with contemporary Indian dance.
Featuring: Kavya Koneru
The Bhava Cycle
April 2021
Writer / Director
This song cycle combines research into ancient Indian aesthetics (Bhava-Rasa Theory) and musical modes (Carnatic Ragas) with contemporary musical theatre and are built with the intention of inciting emotional response in the audience member.
Featuring: Miller Jay Kraps, Piper Keusch, Averi Allison, Shyama Iyer
Shringara: An Indian Music Theatre Retelling of Love
April 2019
Writer / Director
From the monsoons of ancient India to the winter chills of modern America, the story of love, or Shringara, inhabits the lives of three passionate women. Reminisce with them as they evoke their love through language, music, and dance and let your heart experience emotion like never before.
Ramayana
February 2020
Co-Director & Co-Choreographer (style: Bharathanatyam)
The greatest of Indian epics, telling the story of valor, loyalty, and love. Created for the dancers of Guru Vandana Arts Academy in Louisville, KY
The First Breath
March 2018
Co-Writer / Co-Director / Choreographer (style: Indian Contemporary)
A call to arms that combines battle-oriented literature from various cultures and time periods through spoken word and dance