When Eyes Speak is San Francisco’s first South Asian Choreography Festival. Curated by Preethi Ramaprasad and Shruti Abhishek, it has been featured in inDance by Dancer’s Group, and as a Critic’s Pick by the San Francisco Chronicle. Over the years, the festival has been thankful for the support of the American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco Arts Commission, Zellerbach Family Foundation, Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center, Dance Mission Theatre, and Safehouse Arts, to name a few. Our hope as curators is to support artists showcasing the ingenuity and vastness of South Asian diasporic movement and art practices.
Meet the Curators
Preethi Ramaprasad (she/her) is a dancer, curator, musician, and researcher. A student of Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy, her journey teaching and performing Bharatanatyam has led to artistic community-building endeavors across India, Europe, and the United States. She co-runs the Varnam Salon, When Eyes Speak Choreography Festival, and Performing Voices of Bhakti, all platforms for South Asian expression in the diaspora. Ramaprasad has a doctorate in Critical Dance Studies from UC Riverside. More at preethiramaprasad.com.
Shruti Abhishek (she/her) is an Indian dancer, choreographer, and Bharatanatyam teacher. She is Principal Dancer with Nava Dance Theatre and founder of Kshetram in Livermore, CA. Currently touring Kismet with Kali and As You Are, her work explores women’s stories through movement, theater, and music. She co-curates Varnam Salon, When Eyes Speak, and the Art Echoes Series. Learn more at shrutiabhishek.dance.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When Eyes Speak is now biennial. The next iteration will be in 2027, and we look forward to seeing you!
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As of now, we are not accepting applications, but will soon set up a nomination process for this festival
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San Francisco, with some events in other places around the city.
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Email us at sf.wheneyesspeak@gmail.com
