Check out our girl Mesma Belsare in Stuff Magazine.

Style is both a reflection of self and the transformation of it.

The colors, textures, and patterns of her attire reflect the Indian heritage of Mesma S. Belsare, who first came to Boston to earn a Masters degree in art education from Mass College of Art. Formally trained in Bharatanatyam (a South Indian form of classical dance), the choreographer, dancer, artist, and educator has been featured in performances the world over and awarded the Government of India Scholarship for advanced study of dance. She also dances often in local temples, as part of traditional offerings to Hindu deities — yet there is something many would consider untraditional about Belsare: she is transgender.

She says that many who watch her dance are unaware. Those who are often ignore it; a few, on occasion, are unhappy. Her style, though, transcends.

“I performed last year at the University of Wyoming in Laramie in March, which is women’s history month,” recalls Belsare, who also sits on the board of The History Project, a Boston-based LGBT organization. “The local Indian community was incensed at a trans woman representing the Indian arts.... After a two-hour long solo concert, an Indian family apologized to me on behalf of the community, as my dance had said what I couldn’t have in words. The next day, a university professor of gender studies was surprised that her students wanted to talk more about the dance they witnessed than gender issues. Art had once again ruled.”

On one hand, “Style is basically a mirror of your self,” says Belsare. “It’s a reflection of what we think, how we think, our wealth of experiences, life influences — the people with which we associate, the literature we read, the passions we pursue.”

Her style also reflects her creative discipline, as she often wears self-made garments that accommodate and emphasize her art. “The way it [my clothing] is stitched, folded, and ironed is strategically planned to accentuate the movement, the form, the figure, the lines,” says Belsare.

Among her most treasured pieces is her collection of saris. “The sari has a very significant value for me. Not only is it very sexy, but it’s also a beautiful poetry worn on the body, the way it drapes and falls … sexy, but also dignified.”

“Ever since coming here [to Boston], I haven’t established the same kind of relationship with a garment. Except maybe with my winter coats,” she laughs. “Those are friends I need to have.”