Ampersand was given the honor of profiling Mr. Darshan Purohit, a highly respected male dancer in an artform which is almost exclusively female dominated.

‘Bharatanatyam’ is a photographic series featuring the esteemed Mr. Darshan Purohit, Associate Professor of the Department of Dramatics from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India, a male Bharatanatyam dancer.

This series explores the continued existence of centuries-old patriarchal prejudices against males choosing the discipline of dance as a career path, both in India and in other societies internationally. It serves as a pictorial investigation into homophobia and outdated perceptions of socially acceptable norms regarding masculinity and femininity.

Ampersand oversaw all art direction, photography and graphic design.