The Dancer's Voice: Performance and Womanhood in Transnational India

Rumya Sree Putcha's book explores how the Indian classical dancer portrays the complex dynamics of transnational Indian womanhood, supporting caste hierarchies, Hindu ethnonationalism, and white supremacist model minority narratives. She argues that womens citizenship is based on separating their voices from their bodies and offers a new way to understand the intersections of body, voice, performance, caste, race, gender, and nation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2023
Publisher: Duke University Press

Rumya Sree Putcha delves into the intricate dynamics of transnational Indian womanhood through her exploration in The Dancers Voice. She argues that the public persona of the Indian dancer has evolved to become a powerful representation of India in the global imagination, perpetuating caste hierarchies, Hindu ethnonationalism, and white supremacist model minority narratives. Putcha's research encompasses a wide range of sources, including films, immigration and marriage laws, histories of caste and race, advertising campaigns, and personal family heirlooms, photographs, and memories. Through meticulous analysis, she unveils how womens citizenship is intricately linked to the separation of their voices from their bodies. By actively listening to and seeking the voice of dancers, Putcha presents a fresh perspective on understanding the complex intersections of body, voice, performance, caste, race, gender, and nation. This groundbreaking work offers a transformative understanding of the experiences and struggles of Indian women in a globalized world.

Rumya Sree Putcha's The Dancers Voice offers a profound exploration into the complex dynamics of transnational Indian womanhood. Putcha argues that the public persona of the Indian dancer has evolved to represent India in the global imagination, perpetuating caste hierarchies, Hindu ethnonationalism, and white supremacist model minority narratives. Through a comprehensive analysis of various sources, including films, immigration and marriage laws, histories of caste and race, advertising campaigns, and personal family heirlooms, photographs, and memories, Putcha reveals how womens citizenship is intricately linked to the separation of their voices from their bodies. By actively listening to and seeking the voice of dancers, Putcha presents a fresh perspective on understanding the complex intersections of body, voice, performance, caste, race, gender, and nation. This groundbreaking work offers a transformative understanding of the experiences and struggles of Indian women in a globalized world.

Weight: 310g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478019138