Dr. Roxanne Poormon Gupta

 

address

Please email me at: roxanneg@alb.edu

 

degrees

Ph.D. Humanities Doctoral Program, Syracuse University, 1993

M. Phil.:  Humanities Doctoral Program, Syracuse University 1991

M.A.: Religious Studies, Syracuse University, 1984

B.A.: South Asia & Comparative Religion, Syracuse University, 1974

 

current

and

recent

employment

 

Asst. Prof Religious Studies, Albright College, Reading, Pennsylvania

Program Director, New York State Independent College Consortium For Study in India,

Hobart and William Smith College, Geneva, N.Y. (1998-1999) (1994-95) 

Visiting Assistant Professor Religious Studies, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio  (1997-98)

Instructor, Dept. of Anthropology and Sociology, Monroe Community College (1993-96)

Part-time Instructor, Dept. of Anthropology, Syracuse University (1991-1993)

Outreach Coordinator, South Asia Center, Syracuse University  (1985-1992)

 

publications

A Yoga of Indian Classical Dance: The Yogini’s Mirror Inner Traditions International, Rochester, Vermont (3/ 2000).

"Kuchipudi Then, Kuchipudi Now:  A Rejoinder,"  in "Gati Bhedam," Sruti    (India’s Premier Journal of Classical Music and Dance),  Issue 156,  pp. 35-37.  Madras, India (10/1997). 

“Aghora,” “Aghori,” “Aughar,” and “Agehananda Bharati,” entries in The Encyclopedia of Hinduism,  forthcoming, University of South Carolina Press.

 “Kina Ram: Aghori Saint of Benares,”  in Lorenzen, Editor, Bhakti Religion in North India: Community Identity and Political Action,  Religion Series ( Albany: SUNY Press, 1994).

 “Apa Pant, Man of the World,” in Intertwine, Syracuse University (Spring 1987).

"Things that Go Boom in the Night," in The Women's Encampment for a Future of Peace and Justice: Images and Writings  (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1987).

 

selected

seminar

&

conference

papers

“Embracing ‘Orientalism’: Indian Classical Dance in the Postmodern Age” Conference on

Religion in South India, Ottawa, Canada (6/2000)

Sri Sarveshwari Samooh:  Sakti in the Service of the Middle Class,” National Conference of the American Academy of Religion, New Orleans (11/1996)

 “Aughars, Aghoris, Tantrics and Sannyasis: The Politics of Heterodoxy among the Kina Rami,”  National Conference of the American Academy of Religion,  (November 1994)

 “Aughars and Kings in the Age of Cultural Contact,” Conference on South Asia,

University of Wisconsin at Madison,  Wisconsin  (11/1991).

 “Bhagwan Ram: Politics and Religion in a Sant Sampradaya of North India,” Conference

on The Secular Becomes the Sacred, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York  (4/1991).

 “Are the Aghoris Tantric?” Second Conference of the Society for Tantric Studies,
Cleveland, New York (conference organizer, 10/1988).

 

recent

presentations

A Four Part Lecture Series on Art and Spirituality (based on the South Asian Collection), Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y.  (10-11/1996).

"Stalking the Wild Aghori:  Images, Reflections and Insights on a Radical Saivite Sect of North India,"  Cornell University South Asian Seminar Series (10/1995).

"Tantric Themes in Art and Dance:  An Indian Classical Dancer Responds to the South Asian Collection,"  Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, N.Y. (3/1994).

 

professional

memberships

American Academy of Religion

Society for Tantric Studies

American Association of University Professors

 

languages

fellowships

& awards

Hindi (spoken and written), Telugu (spoken)

Visiting Fellow (1996-97) Cornell University South Asia Program

National Hindi Fellowship (9/1992-5/1993)

Syracuse University Graduate Fellowship (6-8/1991)

American Institute of Indian Studies Junior Fellowship (7/1989-9/1990)

University of Wisconsin Junior Year in India Program  (1972)

NDFL (Telugu) Language Scholarship, University of Chicago (6-8/1972)

 

video projects

(A series of videos on religion in South Asia filmed on site for classroom use:)

 “Adyar:  The World Headquarters of the Theosophical Society” (1 hr.)
narrated by Roxanne Gupta, filmed in Madras (7/1990).

 “Aghoris I have Known” (60 min.) video segments filmed in North India (1989-1995)

 “A Visit to the Kuchipudi Arts Academy, Madras” (20 min.)
with interview of Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, filmed in Madras (7/1990).

 “Bauls of Bengal,” (30 min.) filmed in Banaras (11/1991).

 “Goddess Worship in North and South India,” (20 min.) video segments filmed in

North India (1989-1991).

 “Kathmandu! A Video Tour” (2 hrs.)
narrated by Mark Dyczkowski, filmed in Kathmandu, Nepal (4/1990).

 “Patua Scroll Painters of Bengal” (20 min.)
narrated by Aditi Nath Sarkar, filmed in Calcutta (9/1990).

 “Prana Pratistha at Devipuram,” (2 hours) ceremonies at a Sri Vidya Temple, filmed in Devipuram, Andhra Pradesh, (7/1990).

 “Shakti Peethas: Hot Spots of the Goddess” (90 min.,  narrated by Roxanne Gupta, filmed in Andhra, Assam, Bengal, and Orissa (7/1989–8/1990).

“Surya Namaskar” (90 min., )  narrated by Roxanne Gupta, filmed in Maharasthra (8/1989).

 

 

Indian Classical Dance Scholarship, Training, and Performance:

 

dance

training

in

India

 

Kuchipudi:  with Vempati Chinnasatyam and/or A.B. Bala, Kuchipudi Kalakshetra, Vishakapatnam, A.P. (6-8/1987;  6-8/1988;  8-10/1989; 1/1990; 1994;  2-7/1997; 7-8/98)

Kuchipudi Arts Academy, Madras and Kuchipudi Village, Andhra Pradesh (6-8/1986).

Kuchipudi and Bharata Natyam:  with K. Sudarshan, Secunderabad, A. P. (8-12/1981)

Andhra Natyam:  with Natraj Ramakrishna, Hyderabad (June-September 1976).

Abhinaya with A. B. Venkataratnam, A. P. Sangeet Natak Akademi Sadas (1-3/1973).

Andhra Natyam with Natraj Ramakrishna, Hyderabad (9/1972-1973)

 

dance

scholarships

 

Jon B. Higgins Memorial Scholarship for the Study of Indian Performing Arts (1986).

Andhra Pradesh Government Arts Scholarship (11/1981)

dance

papers

 

“Sexuality and Spirituality:  Indian Classical Dance in Post-Colonial Context,” South Asia Series, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (4/1989).

 “The Theology of Indian Dance:  Arguing for a Post-Colonial Aesthetic,” Canadian

Council of Learned Societies, Hamilton, Ontario (6/1987).

 “Tantric Dimensions of Indian Classical Dance,” Conference on the Erotic Theme in the Cultural Traditions of India, University of Minnesota, Milwaukee, Minnesota (5/1985).

 

recent

dance

performances

 

 “Kuchipudi by Kamayani,” Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, India (11/1998);

Kala Bharati, Visakha Music and Dance Academy, Vishakapatnam, A.P., India (7/1997).

"Kuchipudi Dance Concert," La Vieux Salidieu, Bessay, France (6/1998) (5/1995).

 “Deity and Desire,” Baud, Brittany, France (6/1998)

"Tantra and Indian Dance," (with Durga Bor), Soeterijn, Amsterdam (5/1995).

"Tantra and Indian Dance," (with Durga Bor), Korzo, Den Haag, Netherlands          

"An Evening of Indian Classical Dance and Music," (with Mark Dyczkowski) Le Fonte Acquariana, Turin, Italy  (6/1994).

 “Four Styles of Indian Classical Dance,” (with three other artists),  Syracuse University,  Syracuse, N.Y.  (3/1993).

 

selected

dance

performances

in

academic

settings

 

 “Adi Shakti: Dawn of the First Goddess,” Albright College Performing Arts Series, Reading, PA  (3/2000) ; 

Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA (4/2000)

 “Deity and Desire,” Wooster College, Ohio (3/1998); Westminister College, New Wilmington, PA. (4/1998)

 “Indian Classical Dance and Tantra,” Bard College, Anandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. (10/1996).

“Tantra and Indian Classical Dance,” Finger Lakes Community College, Canandaigua, N.Y. (4/96)

Kuchipudi, Indian Classical Dance in the Andhra Style,”  Enlightenment Series,
University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y. (10/1991). 
 “Indian Classical Dance and Tantra,” LeMoyne College, Syracuse, N.Y. (10/1992).

“Tantra and Indian Classical Dance,” Plenary Session of the National  Conference of the American Academy of Religion, Chicago, Illinois (11/1988).

Dance Program:  Conference on Religion in South India, Niagara Falls, New York (5/1984).

Performance/Lecture:  “Tantra and Indian Classical Dance,” Inaugural Conference for the Society for Tantric Studies, Rougemont, North Carolina (4/1987).

Performance/Lecture:  “Temple Dance in Andhra,” Temple in Society Symposium, Institute for Research in the Humanities, Elvehjem Art Center, Madison, Wisconsin (3/1986).

Madhavi, Courtesan of Puhar,” Plenary Session, N.E. Regional AAR, Syracuse, N.Y. (4/1983).