JOYCE K. PAUL - INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCER

Joyce K. Paul is an Indian classical dancer and exercise physiologist. Classically trained in Bharat Natyam, she has also trained briefly in Mohiniattam, the classical dance of Kerala. Paul had her initial dance training under the Bharatanatyam guru, Leela Samson. She is the founder and the Artistic Director of Arpan set up in 2003 in Redmond, WA

Paul received her dance training under Bharatanatyam guru, Leela Samson, Prof. J.Janardhanan and Prof C. V. Chandrashekaran at Kalakshetra.

She started her college education with an Honours degree in Zoology with specialization in Reproductive Biology while Masters saw her move on to studying the evolution of man in time and space. She completed her Ph.D in Exercise Physiology from the Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi. During her Ph.D she published papers on 'Dance Related Injuries Among Bharatnatyam'  and also on 'Pattern of Subcutaneous Fat Distribution, Its Variation with Age Among Young Rajput Females of Pauri Garhwal, India

Paul spent about 15 years of her corporate career working for NIIT India Ltd and Microsoft Corporation as an Instructional Designer, Content Publisher, User Researcher and Business Intelligence Analyst

She started her teaching career by teaching private Bharatanatyam classes as early as 1990 with the blessings of her Guru (Padmashri) Leela Samson. She taught classes to corporate clients during the years 1996 to 1998 doing seminars on communication using dance as a body language. She has also assisted teaching (Bharatanatyam classes) at Kalashram Trust, New Delhi, founded and directed by Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj.

After moving to Redmond, WA to join Microsoft in 2001, she founded her own dance company Arpan.

Paul has performed extensively over the last 17 years. In 2003, she performed in "Dance to the Music" at Town Hall, In 2004 and 2007, she performed at Utsav and she also performed for Seattle's Partners in Preservation Initiative

Choreographies

• Kalaprayanam (2005) previewed at Northwest FolkLife Festival, Seattle, WA

• LayaSamvaad (2009) opened at Ehsaas 2009 

• Kalaprayanam (2007) at Ehsaas 2007 

• Tillana in ragam Maand first performed at Town Hall (March 2003) for Dance to the Music series.

• Kaikottikali, Himachali folk dances, Dandiya, Garbha and other folk dances of India.