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A journey to not hide behind the labels...

Ashish is a contemporary dancer, performance maker, and comedian whose work exists at the intersection of movement, theatre, and humour. These artistic identities often blur within his practice, allowing him to explore expression through multiple performative languages.

His work is deeply rooted in movement improvisation and physical theatre, drawing inspiration from the randomness, chaos, beauty, and unpredictability of life and the universe. With an academic background in Social Work and Sociology, he approaches performance through a critical and embodied sociological lens.

His practice frequently questions the gatekeepers of society who condition the body through social and cultural norms. By using distorted body imagery, physical humour, deviant vocal expression, and unconventional characters, he challenges dominant ideas of “normal” behaviour and aesthetics. Through this process, he seeks to uncover new possibilities, freedom, and pleasure within the moving body.

Dance and AcademIC TRAINING

Grants & Recognitions

2021–2025

Professional practice in contemporary dance and physical theatre.
Undertaken intensive apprenticeships and workshops across India in Hip-Hop, Contemporary Dance, and Physical Theatre. Trained under several national and international artists, including Abhilash Ningappa, Nakula Somana, Deepak Kurki, José Agudo, Ashley Lobo, Wendy Jehlen, and Ana Mirtha, among others.

Participated in the Anikaya Birds Intensive held in Bengaluru in 2025 and 2026.

2023–2025
M.A. in Sociology

Qualified the University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), December 2025.

2021
Diploma in Dance and Interdisciplinary Art Practices.
Moksha Art Space, Bengaluru.

2017–2020
Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Tuljapur, Maharashtra.

2025

Recipient – Serendipity Arts Festival
Selected for Folios of Time 2.0, Contemporary Dance Residency.

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2024

International Visitors Programme – Tanzmesse, Düsseldorf, Germany

Participated in the International Visitors Programme (August 2024), supported by Goethe-Institut New Delhi.

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2023 & 2025

Guest Performer – Goethe Darbaar
Invited Guest Performer at Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi.

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2023

Recipient – International Dance Residency
“Invisible Dance: The Body in Friction”
Ahmedabad, supported by Goethe-Institut India and Indonesia.

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2020–2021

Student of the Year (Diploma Batch)
Awarded with a scholarship of INR 1 Lakh.

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