Methuen Drama Ram Gopal: Interweaving Histories of Indian Dance

Part-biography and part-history, this book explores the significant role that Indian dancer Ram Gopal (1912-2003) played in bringing Indian dance to international audiences from the 1930s to the late 1960s. Almost single-handedly, Gopal changed the perception of Indian dance abroad, bringing specificity of movement, classically trained dancers, live musicians and exquisitely detailed costumes, which were modelled from Indian iconography. In this much-needed study of an often-neglected historical figure, the author unearths a fascinating narrative about Ram Gopal, the individual and the dancer, drawing on interviews with his remaining family, costume-makers, friends, dance partners, fellow dancers and audience members. Through exploring Gopal's lineage and celebrating his international legacy, the author unearths a fascinating narrative of his early life and brief career in India; the early international tours that saw sell-out performances in the USA and in London; Gopal's settlement in India during World War II; and subsequent international performances and tours. She explores the sumptuous imagery of Gopal created by iconic society photographers, including Cecil Beaton and Carl Van Vechten, and by important artists such as Feliks Topolski, Milein Cosman and Kay Ambrose, and considers what it says about the contemporary preoccupation with his body, its truthfulness to the man himself and the international perception of Indian dancers at the time. More broadly, we discover the culture of Indian dance at the time; the politics of the nomenclature; the politics of nationalist and orientalist discourses; the rapid changes created by the demise of colonialism; and the influence of Western styles of dance, such as ballet and modern, in its development. Review The author is an established scholar and an advocate for the arts, with strong connections and understanding of the South Asian professional sector. Therefore, it is expected that [she] will make this book relevant not only to current scholars in the field, but also to the wider professional sector, widening the potential readership ... A key contribution to the field of South Asian dance studies with exciting insights in material and visual culture as related to dance ... A very interesting, rigorous and exciting publication. --Dr Elena Catalano, Kingston University London, UK A strong proposal, which is poised to make a significant contribution to the literature on the development of Indian dance by focusing on the pivotal yet understudied figure of Ram Gopal. --Professor Sitara Thobani, Michigan State University, US About the Author Ann R David is Professor of Dance and Cultural Engagement at the University of Roehampton, UK. She specialises in dance anthropology and South Asian classical and popular dance and her dance training includes ballet, contemporary, folk dance, as well as bharatanatyam and kathak. Her research focuses on dance and ritual practices in UK Indian communities investigating issues of migration, identity and embodiment, and the gestural, narrative and ritual practices of bharatanatyam. She has published widely on this work, as well as on dance in Bollywood, and on the ritual dances of Tibetan Buddhism. She is passionate about the need for the arts and dance in education, working closely with policy makers in the arts and is on the Board of several arts organisations. She has given public talks at the V&A, the British Library, British Museum and National Portrait Gallery and been involved in post-show discussions at Asia House, Nehru Centre, Sadler’s Wells, Southbank and The Bhavan.