Chitra Subramanian/ chitra.MOVES

photo by David Dowling at the Atlas Theater

Grant Recipient

photo by David Dowling at the Atlas Theater

Location

Washington, DC

Digital Presence

Artist Website

Project Title

Village Stories

Fiscal Year Awarded

2026

Grant or Program

National Dance Project Production Grant

Grant Amount

$55,000

Chitra Subramanian of chitra.MOVES merges the movement foundations of Indian classical dance and Hip Hop culture to create electrifying works for all ages. Rooted in themes of relationships, community, and the power of institutions, her performances use immersive storytelling and multidisciplinary elements to foster connection and transformation. Village Stories explores how we activate our networks of care in times of turbulence—how grief opens new paths to connection, care flows between generations, and communities protect one another. Honoring tradition and innovation, memory and presence, Village Stories invites audiences to reflect on their own circles of care and how to sustain them.

Caretakers of Land/Land Acknowledgement: Anacostans (also known as Nacotchtank), Piscataway, and Pamunkey Peoples

Estimated Artist Fee:

4-5 day residency/tour period: approximately $20,000

Four dancers stand in relaxed, open positions. Behind them is a projected archival photo of a DJ from the Shadow Lounge, a historic Pittsburgh club from the 2000s. One male-identifying dancer wears all orange; three female-identifying dancers wear yellow, green, and deep maroon. The group includes one Black man, two Black women, and one South Asian woman.

photo by David Dowling at the Atlas Theater

Five dancers are captured mid-motion. Two male-identifying dancers in the foreground wear purple and orange and move with energy. Behind them, three female-identifying dancers face away from the audience in a unified gesture. A club scene is projected in the background. The group includes two Black men, two Black women, and one South Asian woman. The dancers smile, radiating joy.

photo by David Dowling at the Atlas Theater

Two dancers perform a duet in physical contact, arms extended. The first is a Black female-identifying dancer in yellow; the second, a Black male-identifying dancer in orange. Behind them, a projected image shows a South Asian woman dancing alone in a parking lot, wearing a red traditional Indian salwar kameez.

photo by David Dowling at the Atlas Theater

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