Works

Maya: the Illusionist

Through this program, our intention was to introduce viewers to an ancient South Asian perspective on the idea of worldly illusion, and to share both the traditional vocabulary and the contemporary narrative potential of the Odissi dance form.

Starting with the idea of illusion, or Maya, as it is conceptualized in Hindu scripture, we wanted to show how reality is obscured in stories from other literary and cultural traditions, serving as both a plot device and a metaphor for a major aspect of the human experience.

Raavan: Virtues of the Demon King

A sympathetic portrayal of Raavan, the Demon King.

While Raavan is primarily known as a powerful and often evil demon king in Hindu mythology, he also possessed some notable virtues. He was a brilliant scholar, a skilled musician, and a devout follower of Lord Shiva. His knowledge extended to various scriptures, arts, and sciences, and he was a master of the veena. Despite his flaws, he was also a fierce warrior, a skilled strategist, and a powerful ruler of Lanka. 

Endless: Odissi Dance

This piece follows the progression of a typical Odissi Pallavi, beginning with slow movements and gradually building speed and complexity. Although it is abstract and rhythmic, the intensity that grows over the course of the piece brings to mind a progression from calm to excitement. This buildup of unstoppable energy is a central motif in the dance drama Lal Nupur, (where Nupur’s bells would not let her stop dancing), from which ‘Endless’ has been excerpted.

Lal Nupur is a dance drama written by Late Samar Chatterjee first staged in Kolkata, India in the 1960s

Shiva: The Cosmic Dancer

The dance of Shiva is the dance of the universe itself – the thunderous, unrelenting movements of creation and destruction. We may never fully understand this divine energy, but we can appreciate the dancing form of Shiva – NATARAJ, and do our best to convey our awe.