Surviving Chau

Includes a post-screening discussion with Deepsikha Chatterjee

Directed by Mainak Bhaumik, Surviving Chau is organized into several chapters covering the dance’s history, rehearsal process, and societal significance. An intense level of artistry is required from both the mask makers and the dancers, so they must collaborate with one another to execute Chau correctly.

About the Speaker

Deepsikha Chatterjee has a BA in Fashion Design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, and a BS in Psychology from the University of Madras, India. After working in the clothing export industry, she moved to the United States to pursue an MFA in costume design from Florida State University. She has worked in professional theaters, including the Glimmerglass Opera, the Utah Shakespearean Festival, and the Santa Fe Opera. She received grants from the United States Institute of Theater Technology for her research in Indian costumes and textiles for theater and film. In 2013, Deepsikha received a PSC CUNY grant to study Chau masks from eastern India. She currently lectures on costume design and technology for the Hunter College Theater Department.