Judge 2018
Joyce K. Paul
Joyce K. Paul is an Indian classical dancer and exercise physiologist. Classically trained in Bharat Natyam, she has also trained briefly in Mohiniattam, the classical dance of Kerala. Paul had her initial dance training under the Bharatanatyam guru, Leela Samson. She is the founder and the Artistic Director of Arpan set up in 2003 in Redmond, WA.
Paul received her dance training under Bharatanatyam guru, Leela Samson, Prof. J.Janardhanan and Prof C. V. Chandrashekaran at Kalakshetra. She started her teaching career by teaching private Bharatanatyam classes as early as 1990 with the blessings of her Guru (Padmashri) Leela Samson. She taught classes to corporate clients during the years 1996 to 1998 doing seminars on communication using dance as a body language. She has also assisted teaching (Bharatanatyam classes) at Kalashram Trust, New Delhi, founded and directed by Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj.
Bala constantly works on developing and perfecting the style that would be seamless and fluid while yet retaining the precision, power and purity of line - typical of classical dance. As a Professor of Practice, Bala is constantly developing “Performing studies” in collaboration with Theater and Dance, History, Philosophy, Linguistic anthropology and South Asian Departments of various Universities in the United States and served as Fellow and Artist in Residence at The Carl A fields Center@Princeton University.
Paul has performed extensively over the last 17 years. In 2003, she performed in "Dance to the Music" at Town Hall,[7] In 2004 and 2007, she performed at Utsav [8] and she also performed for Seattle's Partners in Preservation Initiative.