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riya Srinivasan is a dancer and choreographer who uses her multidisciplinary practice to catalyse social, cultural, and political change. Her intercultural work primarily focuses on feminist collaborations that prioritise decolonisation processes. She is the Artistic Director and co-founder of Sangam, a performing arts platform she founded to address systemic inequity in the arts in Melbourne. Priya has a PhD in Performance Studies from Northwestern University, and her award-winning book “Sweating Saris” highlights Indian dance as transnational labour. She combines theory and practice to work towards social justice through art.
Marshall McLuhan opined that the medium is the message. It defines the pioneering work that Priya is doing in her space through dance, drama and dedication. She has dedicated her time and energy to bridging cultures, building communities and inspiring change. Crusading and championing for the right causes is the leitmotif of her existence.
Priya is a highly sought-after speaker and thought leader. Speaking to industry leaders, academics, government, council, artists and diverse audiences, she has navigated complex terrain. She brings a nuanced approach to simplifying ideas about power and the role of the arts in social transformation in an engaging manner.
Priya Srinivasan is a public intellectual/writer/director who lives on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people. Her multidisciplinary work uses research to put into transformational practice ideas of equity within a deeply embedded community-engaged practice, to act as a catalyst for social, cultural and political change for India and its diaspora. She has worked across the globe to challenge Western hegemonic beliefs and practices, directing interventions in cultural practice to highlight the struggles and visibility of Indians.
Priya Srinivasan is an artistic director/dancer/choreographer, lives and works on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung people in Narrm, combining theory and practice to work towards social justice issues through art. Her performances prioritise feminist decolonisation processes, making visible minority women’s histories. She began her career as the lead dancer with the Bharatam Dance Company, the first Asian Australian funded professional company. Her experimental, postcolonial work rooted in South Asian classical dance practice has been presented in major festivals and venues internationally.
She has curated, choreographed and performed in several projects in partnership with Hermitage Museum Amsterdam, Pina Bausch Zentrum, Berlin Wall Memorial, Rockbund Art Museum Shanghai, Kalakshetra/Spaces/DakshinaChitra Chennai, Adishakti Puducherry, Shoonya Bangalore, Highways Los Angeles, DCA Darwin, Bunjil Place, Dancehouse, Artshouse, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Carriageworks, Sydney Opera House.
Her large span of intercultural work focuses primarily on feminist collaborations, the most notable include: “Serpent Dreaming Women” and “Churning Waters”, two collaborative First Nations/Indian works, the latter which toured India for Australia Festival. Working with Uthra Vijay, Vicki Couzens, Priyadarsini Govind, Thilagavati Palani, Gina Maree Bundle, Yaran Bundle, Sylvia Nulpintidj and Nadine Lee to develop new understandings of equitable feminist intercultural work; “Encounters”, a collaboration with hereditary artist Yashoda Thakore of the marginalised kalavantulu communities in Andhra, Hari Sivanesan, a British/Sri Lankan veena artist/composer, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at Bunjil Place; and “The Durga Chronicles” with Uthra Vijay, Philipa Rothfield, a multidisciplinary immersive work at Artshouse and Bunjil Place bringing dance and a Carnatic choir of 12 women that focused on the prevention of violence against women.
Her many years of intracultural work with singer/composer Uthra Vijay has explored the interdisciplinary processes of music, dance and text. Their explorations of lost Indian women’s voices have taken them to India and Europe to create intercultural feminist collaborations. Her work with veena player/composer Hari Sivanesan has forged new ground in exciting new collaborations with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Together with Uthra and Hari, Priya has developed mentoring programmes, pioneered youth development, promoted emerging artist showcases and commissions to upskill, professionalise and create new pathways for South Asian performance in Melbourne.
In her ongoing journey at the intersection of art, culture, and social justice, Priya Srinivasan continues to break new ground and foster meaningful connections through her transformative work, leaving an indelible mark on the global stage.
On September 11 and 12, 2026, Priya and her team put up a spectacular show. It was captioned Reflections: A 10 Year Journey and was a Foodbank Australia fundraiser. All proceeds went to Foodbank Australia. It was held at the Walker Street Gallery on Robinson Street in Dandenong, Victoria. The event featured solos, duets, quartets and creative collaborations with some of Melbourne’s most prominent artists, culminating in a large ensemble work. Greater Dandenong Council also described the event as a celebration of 10 years of dance, music, visuals and collaborations between Srinivasan and singer/composer Uthra Vijay.
There was Uncle Mark Brown, who delighted us with his didgeridoo and also welcomed the spirits.
The spectacular took us from Tamil poet Avvaiyar to the Azhwars, Andal to the Thillai Ambalam, touched on the lives and works of BV Nagarathnamma and MS Subbulakshmi, a Kshetrayya composition, Wetlands Sounds and Uncle Mark’s didgeridoo, Prithvi Sooktham (Atharva Veda) and excerpts from the Durga Chronicles.
It brought on stage Melbourne artists of varied talents and standing, to produce this spectacular of music, dance, sound, movement, theme and a powerful message. The audience was privy to amazing rendition, smooth coordination and flawless execution. Kudos to Dr Priya Srinivasan, Uthra Vijay, Uncle Mark Brown, Sridhar Chari, Murali Kumar, Sughosh Seetharaman, Chandana Brijesh, Deepa Mani, Shyama Sasidharan, Maya Dhananjay Tejas, Fathiah Raihan and Roshan Ramesh.
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