Janet O Shea

🪔 About

Janet O'Shea is a distinguished scholar, author, and practitioner of Indian classical dance, particularly Bharatanatyam. She has been a Professor of Dance Studies in the Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) since 2008. O'Shea has studied and performed Bharatanatyam since 1989, training with Smti. Nandini Ramani of Madras. Her academic background includes a BA in Anthropology and Dance from Wesleyan University (1990), an MA in South Asian Studies from the University of California, Berkeley (1995), and a PhD in Dance History and Theory from the University of California, Riverside (2001). O'Shea is widely recognized for her seminal work, "At Home in the World: Bharata Natyam on the Global Stage" (Wesleyan University Press 2007), which explores the cultural history of Bharatanatyam and its intersections with nationalism, regionalism, gender identity, urban identity, and globalization. This book received the Association for Asian Studies First Book Subvention Award in 2007. Her research, which has been supported by institutions such as the American Institute of Indian Studies and the British Academy, has involved extensive fieldwork in India, Sri Lanka, Britain, Canada, and the United States. Beyond Bharatanatyam, O'Shea's scholarship also delves into martial arts and the politics of performance. She was awarded the 2020 Gold Shield Faculty Prize at UCLA for her distinguished record in teaching, research, and university service. Awards & Honours: Association for Asian Studies First Book Subvention Award (2007), Gold Shield Faculty Prize (2020).