Movement as Courage. Dance as Truth.

In this powerful episode of Why We Dance, Mia Tate welcomes Mallika Sarabhai—world-renowned Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer, actress, author, and fearless activist—for a conversation that stretches far beyond the stage.

Mallika reflects on growing up in an extraordinary family deeply rooted in Mahatma Gandhi’s movement, her early resistance to becoming a dancer, and the intellectual path that initially pulled her away from the arts. She shares the pivotal “Eureka moment” that called her back to dance—and into partnership with her mother, the legendary Mrinalini Sarabhai.

Together, Mia and Mallika explore how dance became a shared language between mother and daughter, a vehicle for confronting injustice, and a lifelong tool for asking uncomfortable questions. Mallika speaks candidly about using art to challenge power, facing government opposition and hate mail, and why humor, discipline, and vulnerability are essential to survival—both onstage and off.

Their conversation weaves through themes of womanhood, courage, authenticity, and the radical power of movement to communicate what words cannot. This episode is a testament to living fully—embracing both light and darkness—and choosing truth, even when it costs something.

It’s a conversation about legacy, resistance, and why dance, at its best, is an act of profound honesty.

Episode Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction to Why We Dance
(00:57) Mallika Sarabhai: A Journey of Movement
(02:29) Early Life and Family Legacy
(04:01) Discovering Dance and Early Resistance
(05:01) The Eureka Moment: Choosing Dance
(06:14) Dancing with Her Mother and Building a Company
(11:30) Dance as a Language for Social Change
(23:09) Speaking Truth to Power and Government Opposition
(26:08) Purpose, Perseverance, and Personal Cost
(27:52) The Strength and Struggles of Women
(31:22) Responding to Hate with Compassion
(32:08) Vulnerability as a Source of Power
(38:54) Encouraging Critical Thinking Through Art
(45:58) Humor, Heartbreak, and Humanity in Dance
(51:37) Universal Truths and Living Authentically

Links & Resources:

• Mia Tate’s IMDb
• Mallika Sarabhai – Official Website
• Subscribe and Follow Why We Dance on Youtube, TikTok, and Instagram
• Podcast Producer S.J. Nichols (Seannon Gonzalez)
• Executive Producer Meredith Gooderham
• Production Studio Caspian Studios
• Camera Operator Kai Irvine
• Assistant Camera Ben Drummond
• Production also by Dark to Light Productions
• Thank you to Davies Reid Rugs

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lights, Camera, Dance!

In the premiere episode of Why We Dance, actress Musetta Vander interviews the show’s host, Mia Tate—not to talk about dance, but to uncover what dance has rescued, restored, and revealed in Mia’s life and why she created this show.

Mia opens up about the seasons that nearly broke her—divorce, health scares, and the slow, quiet unraveling that happens when you drift away from your own body. What began to pull her back was a return to movement in Cuba, where music, community, and the island’s heartbeat reignited a part of her that had long been dormant.

Their conversation moves through:

• How early sparks of inspiration shaped Mia’s desire to dance
• What her years in Hollywood gave her—and what they demanded
• How creating her documentary Campesino deepened her belief in art as a lifeline
• Why movement can heal in ways language never quite can

The episode concludes with Mia reading a raw, intimate letter about why she dances—a moment that sets the emotional pulse for the stories still to unfold in the series.

It’s a conversation about healing, memory, and the human need to move.

Episode Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction and Personal Struggles

(01:32) Welcome to Why We Dance

(04:02) Early Dance Memories

(05:34) Training and Breakthroughs

(08:50) Transition to Professional Dance

(13:19) From Dance to Documentary Filmmaking

(16:35) Healing Through Dance in Cuba

(21:57) The Universal Language of Dance

(30:11) Dancing with Kids and the Power of Music

(30:50) The Healing Power of Dance and Sound

(33:10) Reconnecting After a Long Time

(34:45) Memories from 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'

(35:52) Audition Stories and Behind the Scenes

(44:10) The Concept of 'Why We Dance'

(53:24) Mia Tate's Letter: Why I Dance

Links & Resources:

• Mia Tate’s IMDb
• Musetta Vander’s IMDb
• Subscribe and Follow Why We Dance on Youtube, TikTok, and Instagram
• Podcast Producer S.J. Nichols (Seannon Gonzalez)
• Executive Producer Meredith Gooderham
• Production Studio Caspian Studios
• Camera Operator Kai Irvine
• Assistant Camera Ben Drummond
• Production also by Dark to Light Productions
• Thank you to Davies Reid Rugs

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.