Charles Ma, pictured leading one of his dance classes in Bangalore, broke the stereotype to become a teacher of the classical Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam. Photo: Sumukha Charles Ma, pictured leading one of his dance classes in Bangalore, broke the stereotype to become a teacher of the classical Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam. Photo: Sumukha
Charles Ma, pictured leading one of his dance classes in Bangalore, broke the stereotype to become a teacher of the classical Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam. Photo: Sumukha

India

Lifestyle

The dancer breaking racial and gender stereotypes in India: a mixed-race man in an Indian woman’s world

  • He may look more Chinese, but Charles Ma doesn’t let tradition stop him from dancing Bharatanatyam, which is usually performed by Indian women
  • When he started he was told his eyes were too small, and later a teacher asked him to wear pink lipstick and earrings for a performance

Topic |   India
Romita Saluja
Romita Saluja

Updated: 11:03am, 17 Sep, 2019

Why you can trust SCMP
Charles Ma, pictured leading one of his dance classes in Bangalore, broke the stereotype to become a teacher of the classical Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam. Photo: Sumukha Charles Ma, pictured leading one of his dance classes in Bangalore, broke the stereotype to become a teacher of the classical Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam. Photo: Sumukha
Charles Ma, pictured leading one of his dance classes in Bangalore, broke the stereotype to become a teacher of the classical Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam. Photo: Sumukha
READ FULL ARTICLE