Ms. Sravya Bandaru, Ph.D. scholar from the Department of Dance, Sarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication, University of Hyderabad (UoH) presented a paper titled “The History of Documentation and Preservation of Indian Classical Dances: A Case Study of Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), National Cultural Body” at the International Federation for Theatre Research (IFTR) 2024 Conference held at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Manila, Philippines on July 16, 2024.

The primary focus of the paper is on the history, process, and practice of documentation & preservation of Indian Classical Dances (ICDs) at a national institutional level with a case study of SNA. The paper aims to identify the gaps and propose suggestions that can enhance the process and practice of documentation of ICDs. The paper is mainly based on fieldwork conducted at the Documentation Unit, SNA, New Delhi. The paper received significant appreciation and positive feedback from academicians, scholars, and artists. Bandaru is currently working with Prof. Anuradha Jonnalagadda.

She presented her paper in the New Scholars Forum Session titled “Performance, Historiography, and Archives,” which featured contributions from China, Norway, and the United Kingdom. The session was chaired and moderated by Tracy C. Davis from Northwestern University, USA. Currently, Bandaru is working with Prof. Anuradha Jonnalagadda.

Bandaru’s participation in the conference was supported by a travel grant from the UoH Institute of Eminence (IoE).