ETD New Choreographer Grant: Spotlight on Amita Batra

Amita Batra is one of three New Choreographer Recipients of 2022 with Eryc Taylor Dance. Batra is a 26 year old dancer and choreographer from Houston, Texas and received Eryc Taylor Dance’s New Choreographer Grant award for Spring of 2022. Batra has loved dance since she was five years old, beginning her training in two styles including Kathak technique and ballet. 

Batra describes Kathak as the Indian classical art of storytelling. Batra’s interest in creating movement sparked when she began experimenting with the styles combined, stretching the confinement of each technique’s physicality. “The intention behind dancing is to express ourselves, so when you have formal training, you can choose what rules you follow and what rules you break,” said Batra. “Your body language is defined by your own unique set of experiences, which was the case for me.” 

Batra founded her own arts initiative called Boundless in February of 2021, including workshop, movement, and dance film collaborations and opportunities. Since she began choreographing, she has created multiple dance films and performed work in Los Angeles, among other locations.“There was never a point that I told myself, ‘yes, I’m going to be a choreographer now’,” said Batra. “It was a very gradual respect that I felt for this craft, and as I learned it, I also wanted to create it.”

Batra’s work pulls inspiration from raw human stories and observations of the human experience. Her work weaves subtle movements into the texture of rich storytelling, creating a contrasting relationship in the narrative of her choreography. “The goal is to be able to create stories through dance that anyone, regardless of race, gender, age, or any sort of identity box, can create and also consume,” said Batra. 

Batra’s favorite part of the choreographic process is getting to see her idea come to life in physical form. She particularly enjoys when dancers who have not yet been exposed to her style learn and physicalize her movement. “Getting to watch other people move is the most amazing feeling in the world,” said Batra. 

Batra said she feels extremely thankful for the choreographic opportunity given from Eryc Taylor Dance as someone who has more of an unconventional background. “A lot of times, people are very quick to just read the word Kathak Indian classical art of storytelling and throw it in a box that I am an ‘ethnic’ or ‘other’ style dancer,” said Batra. “There is a lot more to the work than that, so having this opportunity means the world to me.”