About Miraas

It is said, “A Mirasi will die of hunger before they sell their art to entertain people who cannot understand and appreciate it…”

Miraas is an Urdu word, meaning inheritance. The Mirasi of north and northwest India (and some areas now known as Pakistan) are nomadic performing artists whose traditions are passed down from generation to generation, each serving the same art forms. Approaching the 14th century, many Mirasi migrated westward from India, through Persia, and to the shores of the Mediterranean, where they merged with other ethnic groups and moved into Europe, where they have become known as Romany or “gypsy”.

After the fall of the Roman empire, the traditions of circus arts were sustained by the Romany, until the mid-to-late 1700s when the modern circus was revitalized in Europe.

Bollywood West presents our new Cirque-style dance adventure, Miraas Aerial Dance. Born of two artists-- both world-excellent in their fields-- and of two friends, who seek to share their inheritance of aerial dance.

Renu Kansal - email - bio	Heather Booth - email - bio
	Photos by Jonathan Castner