Sasha Ashwini

Sasha Ashwini is a contemporary dance artist whose works unfold through ethereal propositions, elemental energies, and alternative perspectives on time based on Indian thought systems. At the core of her practice is a belief that memory can live in the body across generations, and that it is ultimately the land that shapes who we are. Raised in British Columbia, in the Greater Vancouver Area, Ashwini’s early experiences were grounded by outdoor activities, such as hiking and camping in the coastal mountains. Ashwini was introduced to Indian Classical dance at a young age and established a professional practice at the age of fifteen. However, like many who experienced a shift in the wake of the pandemic, Ashwini found herself unable to continue performing Indian classical dance as before. She turned instead toward creating her own choreographic works that dive into power, resilience, and softness that resides in the feminine spirit, drawing inspiration from cycles of death and rebirth and the idea that all that is lost comes around new again. In April 2025, Ashwini received the second-place Louise Bentall Award for Emerging Choreographers from DanceHouse Vancouver, supporting her ongoing research for CROSSING DEEP WATERS, premiering in summer 2027.