'The Body - A Sheath' - Exploration of alternative conceptions of the body through Indian classical dance

I would like to explore bioethics issues through diverse cultural frameworks. Social, cultural, religious and spiritual factors influence behaviour in society and condition the legal system in it. They also have an indirect effect on the types of international regulation possible and feasible, opening up the debate on whether universal values can be found or should a more pluralist regulatory system be developed.

The arts provide an engaging and absorbing medium through which to explore bioethics and can add to the richness of textual debate in bioethics.

The dance production ‘The Body – A Sheath’ explores conceptions of the body and self in Indian culture using the notion of the five koshas, which can be traced back to the Taittiriya Upanishad. This 10-minute production in the classical Indian Bharathanatyam style seeks to provoke thought and engage in a multidimensional manner. It aims to inform and educate, and also stimulate thinking on the challenges faced in understanding and accommodating other worldviews. For a full explanation of the dance production see the document "The Body - A Sheath (Concept and Act)" at the bottom of the Biopolitical Cultural Festival session page.

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Dr. Chamundeeswari Kuppuswamy is a skilled Bharathanatyam dancer and dance teacher, with qualifications from India, and is well versed in a number of subjects including dance theory, history and orchestral performance. She practises the Kalakshetra style of dance and is a versatile choreographer. She has been teaching  Bharathantyam for a number of years in India and  England and is the lead dancer of Nandavana Dance Group based in Sheffield. Her dance productions that explore science, ethics and culture include 'Phantom Sita' (2004), 'Savithri' (2008) and 'The Wonderful Toybox' (2009)