Offbeat Dance Night
Sat 14th, 8pm
Old Fire Station Theatre | £10
Anthology of Touches
Dance
20 mins
Anthology of Touches is a dance duet exploring memories and lived experience of touching and being touched. Featuring shared stories documenting moments of touch through movement, spoken word and recorded conversations.
Luke and Effie have been delving into their own history of giving and receiving touch. They have also been holding conversations to find common themes, and different recollections around similar offerings of touch. They have posed the question: ‘is there a memory of touch that you would either re-live, or erase from your life if you could?’
Framed by these conversations, Anthology of Touches considers instances of touch which range from scientific to personal to the perhaps more universal.
The work’s creation has been supported by Pavilion Dance South West, Hull Dance, and Hull City Council.
Credit: Derek Donsworth
Don't Tell Me What Bharatanatyam Is
Dance | Spoken Word | Adult
15 mins
Ancient...Traditional? Colourful! Hand gestures. Hindu...Devotional. Graceful?
What words comes to your mind when you think of Indian classical dance?
I’ve grown up being fed certain ideas about what “Indian classical dance” is – in textbooks, in dance classes, by the Internet, by people. After 25 years of my practice, I no longer feel comfortable sticking to many of these rigid lines - of the body and of the mind. In this work, I delve deeper into what Bharatanatyam has evolved into for me: rooted yet contemporary, local yet global, rigid yet fluid. I explore what it means to be stuck in these in-between spaces of redefining Bharatanatyam for the world we live in today.
I experiment with the form, structure and rhythmic nuances of the “traditional” repertoire striving to create work that resonates with wider audiences and reflects the needs of the present times. This includes investigating social, political, global, shared and personal experiences such as migration, gender, labour, inequality and cultural identity/identities among others. I am keen to push the boundaries of what can be done with and told through this beautiful art form.
“Don’t Tell Me What Bharatanatyam Is” is an experimental performance inspired by my ever-evolving relationship with my art form. It will challenge your perceptions of “Indian classical dance” and take you along an introspective journey of learning and unlearning.
Renegade Master
Dance | Comedy | Adult
12 mins
This dance piece is a vibrant celebration of Queerness intricately woven with a poignant critique on privilege and societal politics. Through our performance, we strive to unify the audience in a shared emotional experience. Our dance transcends mere entertainment, serving as a powerful reflection on the complexities of identity and the challenges faced by marginalized communities. With each movement, we invite viewers to delve deeper into the themes of inclusivity and social justice, sparking meaningful conversations and fostering understanding. The project stands as a testament to the transformative power of art, inspiring us all to embrace diversity and stand against inequality.
This choreographic duet rises as a powerful scream against the harsh reality we are facing: a reality where we are witnesses and accomplices of the degradation of our planet and the socio-political and climatic imbalance that consumes it. We find ourselves trapped in a destructive cycle of which, ironically, we are a fundamental part.
Credit: In Game Producciones