IN THE COMMUNITY
In addition to working for the stage, Roopa frequently uses her penchance for theater, dance, and comedy to speak on issues of culture, politics, and community. Roopa also flexes her strengths as an extrovert, leader, and motivator to facilitate artistic communities that build on values of joy, surrender, experimentation, and humility.
Roopa’s most recent compositional work is for Unfiltered, a dance production by Rasika Kumar, Sahasra Sambamoorthi, and Nadhi Thekkek exploring issues of harassment, inspired by conversations from the #metoo movement.
CARNATIC CHOIR:
Navatman Music Collective
Original composition “Isai Arul Thaaye” for NPR’s Tiny Desk Competition, sung by Navatman Music Collective
Arranger of “Spring Revival,” composition for vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble exploring themes of resilience through Indian classical and gospel soundscapes
DANCE COLLABORATIONS
Worked with composer Esin Gunduz on a new music work for a vocal duo “Sense of Energy”
Thillana in raga Kapi composed by Roopa Mahadevan for Navatman Music Collective, celebrating the power of music to connect people.
COMEDY
Composer for children’s musical theater piece “Drumming a Dream,” for Preeti Vasudevan, New Victory LabWorks Artist, New Victory Theater, New York ( 2019)
Composer/Vocalist for short interlude between Act I and II of Seeta Patel’s re-imagining of the Rite of Spring, London (2019)
Original composition on Ardhanarishwara (ode to the male and female energies of Siva), for dancer Malini Srinivasan