I am Lydia Touliatou a choreographer and researcher based in Helsinki, Finland. My movement practice roots from the dialogue between my training in classical Indian dance, Bharatanatyam, and my formal training in western dance techniques (BA at Trinity Laban). My choreographic work is driven by my need to process and reflect on the psyche of human nature affected by the sociopolitical challenges of today. I am curious about employing dramaturgical methods found in traditional dance forms (e.g. Natyashastra) and experimenting with their structure and relevance on the contemporary stage. My work is predominantly seen by western audiences, hence I am conciously trying to abolish surviving colonial patterns of how eastern dance forms are being viewed (e.g. exoticism, orientalism, and ‘requiring explanation’), which so far has perhaps undermined the potential of a culturally polyphonic contemporary dance scene in the west. My research work is affiliated with the research project ‘Terra-Performing’ in which I have been a part since 2023 as an assistant researcher in performance, with principal investigator Dr. Samir Bhowmik. I am currently investigating the topics of Extractivism, Artificial Intelligence, and robotics in relation to choreographic practices.