What happens when mythology is seen through a woman’s eyes rather than a man’s pen? This question has guided much of Aneesha Grover’s artistic journey. A Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and producer from New Delhi, she has been performing for more than three decades, blending classical dance with theatre, spoken word and experimental formats to reimagine tradition for contemporary audiences. Her work is rooted in Bharatanatyam but expands beyond it, using experimentation as a way to engage more deeply with tradition while reflecting the realities of modern life.

In 2024, Aneesha co-founded Keelaka Dance Company with her mentor Guru Jyotsna Shourie. Together they create productions that draw from goddess traditions, folk narratives and matriarchal theologies, bringing intergenerational voices into dialogue. Their work is infused with nuance, humour and a strong feminist ethos, and is committed to making classical dance accessible to wider audiences without losing its intricacy.

At Abhivyakti, Aneesha presents “Rebel Ranis”, a melange of Bharatanatyam, contemporary movement and monologues. The piece examines how mythology, largely written by men, has defined women across generations and continues to shape them even today. By shifting to a female gaze, the production reimagines these women not as flat archetypes but as complex figures with strength, wit and individuality. Performed with both melancholy and lightness, Rebel Ranis celebrates women who lived on the fringes of society and refused to be contained by binaries, restoring voice and agency to those who have too often been silenced.