Hyderabad Queer Dance Fest, the first such dance event in Hyderabad is giving shape to a long-felt need of the queer community for a platform to express themselves freely. Organised by Patruni Sastry aka Dragvanti, and Queer Nilayam, the fest is supported by Queer Connect, Dark Vibe Society, and Raqsology. Patruni says the fest is a step to mark the presence of the LGBTQ+ community in the field of dance.
Patruni avers, “On World Dance Day, it is essential to provide a platform for the LGBTQ+ community to express themselves through dance, an art form that the community has always found solace and freedom in. Having used dance as a means to express myself as a queer person, I have been able to create a different personal identity for myself in ways that were not so easy with words. The artists performing at the festival are from the queer spectrum, making it an inclusive event that celebrates diversity and talent.
Patruni assures that the event is a safe and supportive space that aims to encourage and showcase the talents of dancers from the community. “This festival promises to be a treat with a range of dance forms such as contemporary, classical, hip-hop, Bollywood, Mahari and drag. Some of the artists who will perform, besides a drag performance by me, are Sravan Telu (Hyderabad’s first male belly dancer ), Prem Leela (trans folk artist), Apoorva (the city’s first queer Bachata dancer ), Khemaya (trans artiste performing Mahari), and Gautam Bandodkar (Kathak and Lavani.)”
