Scholars@Duke

• Background
• 

  Education, Training, & Certifications

  • Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Madison 2000
  • M.A., University of California - Los Angeles 1992
• 

  Duke Appointment History

  • Director of the Program of Dance, Dance, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2014 - 2020
  • Assistant Professor of the Practice of Dance, Dance, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2002 - 2009
• Recognition
• 

  In the News

  • OCT 4, 2015

    $25 Million Gift, $50 Million Center to Elevate Arts

  • OCT 1, 2013

    Dan Blue to Speak at Duke’s 2013 Founders' Day Ceremony

  • JUL 22, 2013

    Times of India

    Modernity tripping garba, U.S. professor says

  • APR 24, 2013

    Teaching Excellence In and Outside the Classroom
• 

  Awards & Honors

  • Richard K. Lublin Distinguished Teaching Award. Duke University. April 2013
  • Visiting Artist Grant. Council of the Arts, Ofice of the Provost, Duke University. September 2010
  • Major Faculty Collaborative Fund Grant. Provost, Duke University. January 2009
  • Mary Duke Biddle Fellowship. Mary Duke Biddle Foundation. September 2008
  • Arts and Science Fellowship. Duke University. June 2008
  • Joshua Charles Trent Foundation Grant. Trent Foundation. June 2008
• Expertise
• 

  Subject Headings

  • Gender Expression
  • India
  • Religion
• 

  Global Scholarship

  • Research

    • India (Country) 

  • Teaching

    • India (Country) 
• Research
• 

  Selected Grants

  • Dance MD Biddle 2017 Proposal awarded by Mary Duke Biddle Foundation 2017
  • The Garba Dance and Goddess Worship in Gujarat, India awarded by Mary Duke Biddle Foundation 2007 - 2009
  • The Garba Dance and Goddess Worship in Gujarat, India awarded by Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation 2007 - 2009
• Publications & Artistic Works
• 

  Selected Publications

  • Books

    • Shah, Purnima. Bhakti Andolana Prerita Natya ane Nrtya Prakaromam Bhaktirasa ane Madhuryabhava = The Concept of Bhaktirasa and Madhurabhava in the Bhakti Genre of Indian Dance-Theatre. B. J. Institue of Learning and Research, 2010.
    • Shah, P., ed. Routledge Encyclopedia of World Dance: South Asia and South-east Asia. Routledge, 2006.
    • Shah, Purnima. Bhaktirasa and Physio-spiritual Transcendence in the Devotional Practice of Indian Dance-Theatre (manuscript in progress) (In preparation), n.d.
    • Shah, Purnima. Garba Dance: Survival of Ritual Traditions in a Globalized World (In preparation), n.d.

  • Academic Articles

    • Shah, Purnima. “Contemporary Indian Dance: New Choreographies in India and the Diaspora by Ketu Katrak. Palgrave, 2011.” Theatre Journal 65, no. 3 (October 2013): 444–45.
    • Shah, P. “Performing Migration: the Journeys of Indian Dance in America.” Attendance: The Dance Annual of India 15 (2013): 54–61.
    • Shah, P. “Physio-Spiritual Transcendence through the Practice of Devotional Dance-Theatre in India.” Repertorio: Teatro & Danca, University of Bahia 15, no. 18 (2012): 43–48.
    • Shah, P. “Innovative Approaches in Contemporary Kathak Dance: a Choreographic Appreciation.” Nartanam, a Quarterly Journal of Indian Dance XI, no. 3 (September 2011): 66–77.
    • Shah, P. “Some Issues on Gender Politics in the Bhakti Genre of Dance-Theatre Performance.” Samipya Journal of Indology XXV, no. 3–4 (October 2009): 1–33.
    • Shah, P. “Negotiating Gender in Contemporary Kathak Dance Choreography.” Samipya Journal of Indology XXV, no. 1–2 (April 2008): 1–15.
    • Shah, P. “Barbara Stoler Miller Conference, Columbia University: A Critical Appraisal of Contemporary Indian Dance Scholarship.” Dance Research Journal, Special Issue on South Asian Dance 36, no. 2 (December 2004): 119–34.
    • Shah, P. “2004 Barbara Stoler Miller Conference.” Dance Research Journal 36, no. 2 (January 1, 2004): 119–34. https://doi.org/10.2307/20444596.
       Full Text
    • Shah, P. “Where they danced: Patrons, institutions, spaces: State patronage in India: Appropriation of the "regional" and "national".” Dance Chronicle 25, no. 1 (December 1, 2002): 125–41. https://doi.org/10.1081/DNC-120003123.
       Full Text
    • Shah, P. “State Sponsorship of the Arts in India: the Appropriation of the National and Regional.” Dance Chronicle 25, no. 1 (2002): 125–42.
    • Shah, P. “Transcending Gender in the Performance of Kathak.” Dance Research Journal 30, no. 2 (January 1, 1998): 2–17. https://doi.org/10.2307/1478835.
       Full Text
    • Shah, P. “Farmayishi Poetics of Kathak: Significance of Reception.” Ucla Journal of Dance Ethnology 18 (1994): 1–7.
    • Shah, P. “Colonial implications on the abolition of the Devadasi system in South India (In preparation).” Samipya: Journal of Indology, n.d.
    • Shah, P. “Presentation of Thumri in Kathak Dance (In preparation).” Journal of Ethnomusicology, n.d.
    • Shah, Purnima. “Contesting Pasts, Performing Futures.” Edited by Sajjad Chowdhry. Southern Asian Institute Newsletter, Columbia University 28 (n.d.): 2-23.

  • Book Sections

    • Shah, Purnima. ““Dance: 1200-1900 CE” Cultural Sociology of West, Central and South Asia.” In Cultural Sociology of the Middle East, Asia and Africa Encyclopedia. Sage Reference, Vol. IV, part II, 2012.
    • Shah, Purnima. “Randala Ritual: Women’s Heritage and Identity in Gujarat, India.” In Ritual, Heritage and Identity: The Politics of Culture and Performance in a Globalized World, edited by Christiane Brosius and Karin Polit. New Delhi: Routledge, 2011.
• 

  Exhibitions, Screenings, & Performances

  • Purmina Shah: Performances, 2001 - 2010 | November Dances at Reynolds Theatre, Duke University 2010
  • Purmina Shah: Performances, 2001 - 2010 | November Dances at Duke University 2003
  • Dashavatar | at Duke University 2003
  • Purmina Shah: Performances, 2001 - 2010 | December Dances at Reynolds Theatre, Duke University. 2001
  • Purmina Shah: Performances, 2001 - 2010 | at niversity of California, Riverside 2001
  • Kathak dance | Asian Indian Culture Show at University of California, Riverside 2001
• 

  Artistic Works & Non-Print Media

  • Dance Productions

    • Kalinga Nartana. Director, Producer. 2017
    • Oh, Shakti!. Producer. 2015
    • Purmina Shah: Performances, 2001 - 2010. Dancer. 2010

  • Films

    • Garba: Dancing for the Goddess. Director. 2009

  • Mixed Media

    • Dashavatar. Director. Choreography, Dance Production. 2003
    • Solo Kathak dance. Choreographer, Director. Choreography, Dance Production. 2001
    • Kathak dance. Choreographer. Choreography, Dance Production. 2001
• Teaching & Mentoring
• 

  Recent Courses

  • AMES 246: Dance and Dance Theater of Asia 2021
  • DANCE 101: Introduction to Dance 2021
  • DANCE 280: Individual Dance Program: Special Topics 2021
  • DANCE 356: Dance and Dance Theater of Asia 2021
  • DANCE 368: Gender in Dance and Theatre 2021
  • DANCE 871S: Critique I 2021
  • DANCE 891: Independent Study 2021
  • DANCE 971S: Critique II 2021
  • DANCE 989: Thesis Project - MFA in Dance: Embodied Interdisciplinary Praxis 2021
  • GSF 212: Gender in Dance and Theatre 2021
  • ICS 102: Introduction to Dance 2021
  • ICS 215: Gender in Dance and Theatre 2021
  • ICS 243: Dance and Dance Theater of Asia 2021
  • RELIGION 241: Dance and Dance Theater of Asia 2021
  • THEATRST 233: Dance and Dance Theater of Asia 2021
  • THEATRST 236: Gender in Dance and Theatre 2021
  • DANCE 101: Introduction to Dance 2020
  • DANCE 122: Intermediate Ballet 2020
  • DANCE 280: Individual Dance Program: Special Topics 2020
  • DANCE 368: Gender in Dance and Theatre 2020
  • DANCE 665S: Contemporary Dance History 2020
  • DANCE 891: Independent Study 2020
  • GSF 212: Gender in Dance and Theatre 2020
  • HISTORY 554S: Contemporary Dance History 2020
  • ICS 102: Introduction to Dance 2020
  • ICS 215: Gender in Dance and Theatre 2020
  • ICS 509S: Contemporary Dance History 2020
  • THEATRST 236: Gender in Dance and Theatre 2020
  • AMES 246: Dance and Dance Theater of Asia 2019
  • DANCE 356: Dance and Dance Theater of Asia 2019
  • DANCE 368: Gender in Dance and Theatre 2019
  • GSF 212: Gender in Dance and Theatre 2019
  • ICS 215: Gender in Dance and Theatre 2019
  • ICS 243: Dance and Dance Theater of Asia 2019
  • RELIGION 241: Dance and Dance Theater of Asia 2019
  • THEATRST 233: Dance and Dance Theater of Asia 2019
  • THEATRST 236: Gender in Dance and Theatre 2019
• Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
• 

  Presentations & Appearances

  • Concepts of Shaivism and Vaishnavism in Indian dance and theatre. August 22, 2010  2010
  • Bhakti Genre of Dance Theatre. July 1, 2010  2010
  • Folk dance forms in Gujarat. January 1, 2010  2010
  • Notions of Femininity in the role of the Onnagata in Kabuki Dance Theatre. November 13, 2009  2009
  • Notes on fieldwork research. August 22, 2009  2009
  • Devadasi Traditions in India and the impact of Colonization. July 16, 2009  2009
  • Research Methods in Dance. December 8, 2008  2008
  • Fieldwork for Garba Dance Book Project. September 11, 2008  2008
• 

  Outreach & Engaged Scholarship

  • Instructor. DukeEngage in India - Ahmedabad. SAATH. 2017  2017
• 

  Service to the Profession

  • External Reviewer for Tenure and Promotion, York University. November 27, 2013  2013
  • Reviewer : Czech Society for Science Research funding. November 27, 2013  2013
  • Reviewer Theatre Journal. November 27, 2013  2013
  • unknown. Paper, "Social Transformation of Garba Dances of Gujarat.”. June 11, 2013  2013
  • Chair : Selma Jean Cohen Award Committee, Society of Dance History Scholars. June 1, 2013  2013
  • unknown. Panelist, "The Future of Kathak Dance in a Global Context.". April 13, 2013  2013
  • unknown. Panel Chair, “ Social Transformation: The Legacy of Pauli Murray.”. March 2, 2013  2013
  • unknown. Panel Chair, “Arts as a Means of Social Transformation.”. March 2, 2013  2013
  • unknown. Paper, “Dancing with the Goddess: Survival of Traditions.”. March 1, 2013  2013
  • Planning Committee, Call for papers and Conference Program Co-coordinator : Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being, Healing. February 28, 2013 - March 3, 2013  2013
  • Arms length evaluation : External Evaluation for Tenure and Promotion of faculty, York University. August 24, 2012  2012
  • unknown. Keynote address, Contemporary Choreography in Indian Dance. Kalanidhi Dance Festival and Conference.. March 17, 2011  2011
  • Reviewer : Asian Women. 2011  2011
  • unknown. Odissi Dance Repertory. August 30, 2010 - December 10, 2010  2010
  • unknown. Interviewer, Dr. Richard Schechner (New York University). Erasing Borders: Festival of Indian Dance, Indo-American Arts Council and Asia Society,. June 5, 2010  2010
  • unknown. Discussant, "Moving Traditions in Indian Dance". June 4, 2010  2010
  • Planning Committee, Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being, Healing Symposium. April 3, 2010  2010
  • unknown. Planning Committee, Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being and Healing Symposium. April 3, 2010  2010
  • unknown. Paper presentation, "Kathak Dance: Practice, Philosophy and Identity". October 23, 2009 - October 25, 2009  2009
  • unknown. Moderator, The State of Contemporary Dance in India and the Diaspora. September 27, 2009  2009
  • unknown. Panelist, Digital Asia: Video Documentary. March 26, 2009  2009
  • unknown. Panel Chair, Actor/Performer as Shaman.. March 19, 2009  2009
  • Planning Committee, Call for Papers and Conference Program Co-coordinator : Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being, Healing Conference. March 1, 2009  2009
  • Planning Committee : Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being, Healing Symposium. December 30, 2008  2008
  • Chair, Nominations Committee : Society of Dance History Scholars. November 27, 2008  2008
  • unknown. Panel Chair, Ethnographic Issues in Dance.. June 23, 2008  2008
  • unknown. Moderator, Across the Threshold: Exploring Transformative Paths to Creativity and Healing. February 23, 2008  2008
  • Institutional Membership : Association for Asian Studies. 2008  2008
  • Reviewer : American Ethnologist. 2008  2008
  • Reviewer : Dance Chronicle. 2008  2008

Some information on this profile has been compiled automatically from Duke databases and external sources. (Our About page explains how this works.) If you see a problem with the information, please write to Scholars@Duke and let us know. We will reply promptly.