Attakkalari - On invitation by ICCR for the IBSA Summit 2008
OCTOBER 15TH 2008, Rashtrapathy Bhavan
OCTOBER 14TH 2008: KAMANI AUDITORIUM, NEW DELHI
Attakkalari was specially invited by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations,New Delhi, to participate in a cultural exchange between India, Brazil and South Africa in New Delhi ( Oct 10th - 15th 2008 ).The culmination of this interaction was a combined performance ( 20 mns ) between the three countries at the prestigious Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi, along with an Attakalari performance at Kamani ( 40 mns ) and a special performance by Attakkalari at the Rashtrapathy Bhavan ( 15th Oct) for the Presidents of India, Brazil and South Africa.
This awe-inspiring piece began with strong percussion and was followed by a section tracing the ancient origins of Kalaripayattu, the martial art form from Kerala.It transformed into a primordial story incorporating the essence of animal moves derived from Kalaripayattu.
Kalarippayattu is considered to be the predecessor of several Asian martial arts such as Kung Fu, Wu Shu and Karate. The distilled essence of primordial animal movements is combined with intricate notions of space found in traditional Indian iconography and architecture. This section was accompanied by the strong rhythms of traditional percussion instruments – mizhavu, djembe, mridangam, chenda, edakka and the shankha played live by well known, highly respected musicians.
The piece then integrated inspirations from various disciplines such as Bharatanatyam, Contemporary Dance, Kathak and even the Brazilan martial dance, capoeira, encompassing 30-45 mns of sheer physical prowess and fine technique, to end with a vigorous Kalaripayattu sequence with the long sticks, and throbbing percussion.
Duration : 30-45 mns
Performed by : Dil Sagar, Rakesh MP, Hemabharathy, Santosh,Sumesh,Denny, Ajeesh, Diya Naidu, Jyotsna, Ramya KN, Rohini Rau, CP Prasad, CV Sukumaran.
Technicals : TransMedia Technologies /Wilson/Bir Bahadur
Light Design : Pritham Kumar
Sound: Shymon Chelad
Percussion : Sri N Sankarnarayan,Hariharan, V Ashok, SV Balakrishna
Programme Manager:Aliyeh Rizvi
THE DAILY STAR REVIEW
Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Thursday, October 30, 2008 02:10 PM GMT+06:00
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Published On: 2008-10-28
Arts & Entertainment
Food and fun in Delhi
Kavita Charanji, New Delhi
Brazilian musicians perform at the programme.
Culture and cuisine came together in a delightful mélange just the other day. Regaling a captivated audience were chefs from South Africa, Brazil and India Just a sample: Kalaripayattu (Kerala) dancers who fused martial dance, strikes, kicks, grapples. In one piece two dancers, armed with swords and shields took centre stage in a mock combat. The venue was the foyer of the Ashok Hotel, New Delhi and the organiser was the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
The scene soon shifted to the Durbar restaurant. Here a group of Brazilian musicians with instruments such as drums, saxophones and trombones delighted people who were attending the select dinner...
After the music, followed some superb food from the three countries, designed to tickle the taste buds. As part of the wonderful Indian, Brazil and South African (IBSA) festival, chefs of the latter two nations were flown in to the menu. The trio comprised, award winning Brazilian chef Mara Alcamim, Owen Jullies, director of the South African Chefs' Association and MS Gupta, corporate chef of the Indian Tourist Development Corporation (ITDC).... And on to the next day when Brazil and South African dancers showed off their fascinating dances, Brazil also featured an orchestra. The first Frevo dance and orchestra performance from Brazil was eye opening. Frevo describes a range of musical styles originating from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil which are traditionally associated with the Brazilian carnival.
After this followed a Frevo dance which requires much rehearsals, strength, endurance and flexibility. Says a note at the programme, “The fight between the groups moved from the physical to the aesthetical.”
Now to South Africa: well known for their grace, enthralling, uninhibited dance. The troupe captured indigenous cultures and modern contemporary genres.
The last show was equally amazing. The Indian core repertory from the Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, Bangalore (South India) was adroit in martial arts, yoga, body conditioning, classical and contemporary dance techniques, coupled with creative dance, choreography and dance. What was interesting was the background of the dancers: Bharatnatyam, Kuchupidi, ballet, contemporary dance, jazz, Kathak and Kalaripayattu.
Explaining the genesis of the concert, was Ajit Gupte, the deputy director general of the ICCR. As he said, “Currently we are having the third IBSA summit where the heads of state from India, Brazil and South Africa are coming together. On the eve of the summit, we have a celebratory and festive occasion. The summit strives to encourage cooperation between the three nations as they are among the largest developing countries…Dance, music, food are an integral part of culture and we seek to expose the people of India to different kinds of foreign cultures.”
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Jayachandran Palazhy
Jayachandran Palazhy is the Artistic Director, ATTAKKALARI CENTRE FOR MOVEMENT ARTS, Bangalore, and The Attakkalari India Biennial.
A phenomenal dancer himself he has trained in India in the dance forms of Bharathanatyam, Kathakali, Indian Folk dance and Kalarippayattu ( the martial art form from Kerala) and in Contemporary Dance at the London Contemporary Dance School ( UK).He has also studied Ballet, Taichi, Capoeira and African Dance.
He has been working extensively as a freelance choreographer, teacher and consultant in different parts of the world and is at the forefront of the contemporary South Asian Dance Scene.
His work often involves digital and interactive technology and he has collaborated with some of the most celebrated artists of the genre on Attakkalari's multi-media works Purushartha, and Chronotopia.
His latest work CHRONOTOPIA, had its world premiere at The Attakkalari India Biennial 2009 and is now ready for touring.
Jayachandran’s multi media dance production PURUSHARTHA toured the European Festival Circuit to rave reviews. PURUSHARTHA is a pan Asian collaborative project choreographed by Jayachandran Palazhy, with music composition and interactive technology by Kunihiko Matsuo from Japan in a unique blend of Indian Movement idioms and Japanese digital & Sonic Arts.
Jayachandran has also created a Research Project on Indian Physical Expressions - Nagarika:
Derived from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘a civilizational dimension’, Attakkalari’s exhaustive research project ‘Nagarika’ is an Integrated Information System on Indian Physical Expressions through technology. The project compiles and categorizes movement sequences of two specific Indian movement traditions – the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam and the Keralan martial art - Kalarippayattu.
As the Artistic Director of Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, Jayachandran has created a brilliant team of dancers, inspired and led by his innovative and cutting edge choreography.His work tours widely in India and all over the world.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
ATTAKKALARI INDIA BIENNIAL 2009 , Opening
On the 6th of February, as the sun set over Bangalore, Chowdiah Memorial Hall came alive with a spectacular display of colour, energy, artistry, physicality and technology as all these combined to create the Inaugural ceremony of the Attakkalari India Biennial 2009.
The city, its inhabitants, locations, day-to-day happenings and its constant transformation was the theme of this site-specific event. Marking the opening of the Attakkalari India Biennial 2009, contemporary urban life and its distant traces were brought to life, animating the entire architecture of the Chowdiah Memorial Hall.
Dancers, choreographers, composers, musicians, digital artists, light designers, architects, carnival artists and costume designers from different parts of the world - Japan, Netherlands,the UK, Belgium, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, France and India - stretched the boundaries of performance in this trans-disciplinary work. Alongside international artistes, local folk artistes added vibrant Khamsale and Dollu Kunitha performances to the event in the spirit of the moment.
On the pathway, as a part of a promenade performance, dancers and physical performers in colourful, large carnival costumes entered along with a decorated auto-rickshaw which became the connecting theme of the event and acted as a mascot. A drum orchestra from Portugal and India in costume, martial artists with colourful sticks and flags, illuminated constructions on push-carts invoking images of a city that is constantly being rebuilt followed. The enveloping sound and huge projection created the context for an electrifying performance animating the outside space at the Chowdiah Memorial Hall.
It was truly a collaborative effort of artists from different parts of the world, drawing from their individual journeys as well as historical ones such as spice trades of yester years, On the Move portrayed urban life, its little joys as well as trials and tribulations.
Alison Pretty lead a team of seven designers from London (UK), working with 20 young designers of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) to create the costume and visual feel of the site-specific grand multimedia promenade performance to mark the opening of Attakkalari India Biennial 2009 at Chowdiah Memorial Hall. Ali and her team of designers from Kinetika have created costumes at the Atlanta Olympics and many big outdoor events throughout the world. (www.kinetika.co.uk )
The event also involved Brouhaha, the UK-based organization who develop quality arts and cultural projects and programmes including carnivals that meet the aspirations of diverse communities at a local, national and international level. They presented Spice– a four nation (Portugal, Spain, UK and Attakkalari, India) collaborative work funded by the European Union as part of the inaugural performance at the festival.
( www.brouhaha.uk.com)
Cutting edge interactive design, an installation, music and a performance from Japanese artists Kunihiko Matsuo, Naoki Hamanaka, Mitsuaki Matsumoto and JOU altered the perception of the audience while large outer walls of the building were used for projections and lighting to create a new perception of a city in transformation. German digital artist Christian Ziegler and his team worked on the 4 glass panels on each side of the entrance to project a video installation of Bangalore, giving a panoramic view of the city while moving through it. Thomas Dotzler, Light Designer ( Sweden), Imre Dsebrik, and TransMedia Technologies ( India) also provided expert technical support for Light design and execution.
The audience watched alongside the promenade and also witnessed stand alone performances in the foyer. Inside the auditorium they were further treated to a finale performance on stage by Attakkalari, Brouhaha, Jou and Paris based musician and composer Mathias Duplessy on the Mongolian Morin Khuur/ Acoustic Guitar with celebrated percussionist Hariharan on the Mizhavu .
The idea was to bring the spirit of the city to the premises of Chowdiah and celeberate the vibrancy of a "City On The Move -Connecting People ".
YUVA Performances
1. ASHWA
Inspired by the spiritual and martial aspect of Indian culture and set to evocative music, this piece is rooted in the ancient martial art form of Kalarippayattu from the state of Kerala, which is situated at the southern tip of India. Kalarippayattu is considered to be the predecessor of several Asian martial arts such as Kung Fu, Wu Shu and Karate and is believed to have been taken to China and Japan by Buddhist monks. Here, earthy sinuous movements are interspersed with sudden leaps and jumps. The distilled essence of primordial animal movements is combined with intricate notions of space found in traditional Indian iconography and architecture. Starting with a highly stylized salutation of the cosmos , the piece demontrates the intense physicality of the performers and the breathtaking dynamism of their movements which are done with absolute concentration of mind, body and spirit.
Duration - 5 minutes/ 15 mns extension possible
Number of performers : 6-7
2.REFLECTIONS
A brief encapsulation of selected elements from the cultural milieu of India. Geometrical lines of Bharatanatyam (an Indian classical dance which originated in the temples) and postures reminiscent of Indian temple sculptures are brought to life in this thoroughly contemporary delineation of sophisticated physical movements. Images of daily life, pedestrian gestures and memories fuel the choreography. Small and precise movements of the hands and eyes are mixed with large, athletic and expansive movements of the whole body creating transient patterns and images. Beautifully designed costumes and a captivating sound score support this dynamic yet sensuous dance which is interspersed with rare moments of contemplative stillness.
Duration - 9 minutes
Number of performers: 5
3.VIVA
A Brazilian martial art disguised as a dance form, Capoeira was developed by Africans who were brought to South America against their will. When they were banned from using weaponry or even their hands to fight, they developed an inspired technique using only their legs as instruments of combat. Using this concept as a platform, Viva is an energetic dance which celebrates diversity where cultures share their heritage, respect differences and rejoice in the sheer joy of being together. African folk and Brazilian urban street moves meet Indian acrobatics and popular dance in this exuberant display of sheer physicality and camaraderie. This high-energy piece with its colourful costumes will lift spirits and effectively encapsulates the festive mood of the occasion.
Duration - 6 minutes
Number of dancers : 6-7
4.RENDEZVOUS IN JALLANDHAR
Images of everyday life in Jallandhar city (in the state of Punjab, at the north west corner of India), and its moments of joy as well as trials and tribulations were the starting point for singer/songwriter Tjinder Singh of British Asian band Corner Shop who composed the music for this piece. Set against the diffused amber light of dawn and dusk, these snippets of life are transformed into elegant movement sequences with spectacular yet effortless lifts, fluent slides and rolls creating a tapestry of pulsating motifs. The catchy music and beautifully structured interweaving patterns of movement makes this dance a visual treat for the senses.
Duration - 6 minutes
Number of performers : 7
5. KATHAK
A very short piece, it is usually set between larger pieces, like the intricate jewelled inlay work so distinctive of the Mughal period. This fluid, ethereal piece is full bodied with a richness and grace associated with the royal courts of a bygone era. It is based on the movement vocabulary of Kathak, and is performed to soulful musical accompaniment.
Duration : 2 mns
Number of performers : 4
6.BODY BEAT
An exhilarating, energetic piece marrying and synchronizing rhythm and body movement. In Body Beat dancers celebrate the human form, a sound body and the sheer joy of being physically alive. It stretches imagination and physical endurance, extending human capabilities and testing limits, every minute, just when one begins to believe there can be no going further.
Duration: 5 minutes
Number of performers : 7
7. INTERSECTIONS
In this piece, Attakkalari offers a fresh approach to dance that is both visual and physical, combining elements of theatre, martial arts, classical Indian dance and acrobatics with contemporary dance. This piece is a glimpse into the multiple identities of individuals, in different physical and mental manifestations.
Duration: 5 minutes
Number of performers : 4
8. SOUL PSALM
A reflective attempt to converse with one’s self, as well as a voyage of discovery with one’s partner. Moving in perfect unison to haunting music by Nitin Sawhney, a couple glides through space creating visual poetry in this duet. This piece is sensuous and fluid, as the dancers create a new language between them which goes beyond the parameters of conventional expression. It seeks to affirm that meaningful communication does not always depend upon the inadequacies of spoken language.
Duration: 7 minutes
Number of performers : 2
9. SWA ATMAN
From the birth of inner consciousness to a discovery of the self, Swa Atman is a journey of the soul. Dressed in symbolic mystic colours, the dancers explore the rise of our latent consciousness developing into thoughtful awareness and a final discovery of our place in this world.
Duration : 6 mns
Number of performers : 4
10. PUSHPANJALI
This is a traditional Bharatnatyam piece – the dancers present an offering of flowers and salutation to the deities, the audience, and mother earth. The choreography is by Savithri Jagannath, music by Sai Shankar and vocals by Mysore Shrinath.
Duration : 4 mns
Number of performers : 2-4
11
11. Cinemascope
Contemporary dance today strives to be genderless, formless and ageless. In Cinemascope we revisit conventional spaces and paradigms to create an implosion within them. We reach inside these areas to celebrate the chaos and aesthetic shift within the popular and accepted realms of cinematic body language, classical perceptions of form and movement, and a globalization of previously isolated vocabularies. What we get is the unique interaction of a recognizable framework yet a surprising dynamism that is essentially alive, resists definition and is throbbing with the confidence, the fun and sometimes cinematic feel of young India today.
Duration : 11 Mins
No. of Performers: 8 - 12
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfsGslraj2Y
12. AAYODHANAM
This piece presents the pure vocabulary of Kalarippayattu – the Southern Indian martial art form and then develops it further. The distilled essence of primordial animal movements, reverberate with traditional aesthetic. The dancers then experiment with this five thousand year old legacy and present it using a contemporary lens.
Duration : 6 Mins
Number of performers: 5 - 8
Our Past Partners have Included:
1. IBM
2. BOSCH
3. Indian Council for Cultural Relations
4. SAP technologies
5. Overseas Women's Club
6. Hindustan Unilever Limited
7. Lavanya Nalli
.......amongst others
Kalinga Martial Dance Festival , Jan 2009
The Attakkalari Repertory is well versed in martial arts, yoga, body conditioning, classical and contemporary dance techniques as well as creative dance, choreography and dance pedagogy. The dancers train with national and internationally acclaimed choreographers and teachers and constantly upgrade and hone their skills, promoting kinaesthetic energy. Artistic Director, Jayachandran Palazhy's cutting edge and innovative choreography enhances the complex body movements creating a genre and language of it’s own.
Attakkalari also provides a platform for young choreoographers to create their own work, under the YUVA umbrella. These pieces are then part of a mixed bill that is not budget or technical intensive and can be performed at most venues across the cities and in India.
Attakkalari began 2009 with a vigorous performance celebrating peace at the Kalinga Martial Dance Festival on January 10th 2009, in Bhubaneshwar. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Dhauli Stupa, the festival is all the more significant as it is performed on the spot where Emperor Ashoka set down his sword and embraced Buddhism in the aftermath of the famous bloody battle of Kalinga.
The 40 mn performance was based on movements from Kalaripayattu, incorporporating elements from Capoeira, the Brazilan martial dance form, and Attakkalari's own unique style.
Invited by the Orissa Department of Tourism, and curated by well known Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi, the Kalinga Martial Dance Festival gave the Attakkalari Repertory an opportunity to showcase their skills in various physical traditions.
CHRONOTOPIA, Heggodu
Attakkalari recently performed its new multi-media work `Chronotopia ' at Ninasam, Heggodu.
Ninasam is a cultural organisation located in the village of Heggodu in Sagar Taluk of the Shivamogga district in the state of Karnataka, India. Ninasam (also spelt as Neenasam) is the short form of Sri NIlakanteshwara NAtyaseva SAMgha, an organisation dedicated to the growth of drama, films and publishing. Ninasam was the brainchild of the renowned dramatist and Magsaysay award winner, K V Subbanna. It is currently headed by K V Akshara, the son of Subbanna.
Chronotopia was performed by invitation at Ninasam, with an active `Meet the Artiste' session in both English and Kannada, facilitated by KV Akshara. Lively debates on the use of technology in performance followed, with an enquiring and receptive audience eager to know more about the performers, their thoughts and inspirations while creating the work.
It was performed at the Ninasam Auditorium, Heggodu at 7:15 pm.
Chronotopia is supported by the India Foundation for the Arts.We also thank the French Embassy in India, the Delegation Generale Des Alliances Francaises en Inde and The Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada for their support.
Ninasam is a cultural organisation located in the village of Heggodu in Sagar Taluk of the Shivamogga district in the state of Karnataka, India. Ninasam (also spelt as Neenasam) is the short form of Sri NIlakanteshwara NAtyaseva SAMgha, an organisation dedicated to the growth of drama, films and publishing. Ninasam was the brainchild of the renowned dramatist and Magsaysay award winner, K V Subbanna. It is currently headed by K V Akshara, the son of Subbanna.
Chronotopia was performed by invitation at Ninasam, with an active `Meet the Artiste' session in both English and Kannada, facilitated by KV Akshara. Lively debates on the use of technology in performance followed, with an enquiring and receptive audience eager to know more about the performers, their thoughts and inspirations while creating the work.
It was performed at the Ninasam Auditorium, Heggodu at 7:15 pm.
Chronotopia is supported by the India Foundation for the Arts.We also thank the French Embassy in India, the Delegation Generale Des Alliances Francaises en Inde and The Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada for their support.
CHRONOTOPIA, Chennai
Attakkalari recently performed its new multi-media dance work `Chronotopia ' at the Music Academy, Chennai on February 18th 2009. At 7: 30 pm.
The performance was followed by a `Meet the Artists ' session facilitated by Mr.Sadanand Menon, well known journalist, Chief Light Designer-Chandralekha's group, and a very eminent personality in the art and culture world in India.Active discussions on `Chilappathikaram' and its influence on Chronotopia, formed a prominent part of the discussion.Attakkalari was quick to respond that while it does not follow the storyline of the original epic at all, it was inspired by themes within the story, such as tenderness and loss, which it explored further in a contemporary context.
Classical Tamil poetry often employs a narrative style that establishes a connection between the landscape and the emotional as well as spiritual mind set of the characters, creating a geography of mind and imagination. Inspired by this idea, CHRONOTOPIA attempts to create a complex nonlinear dramaturgy by placing deliberately stylized physical movements in a digitally constructed and changing stage architecture. These physical movements are abstractions of images derived from contemporary experiences, imagination and memories, organized to create a sensorial journey that is without chronology.
The performance was supported by India Foundation for the Arts, ( in association with Spinz) as a part of India Foundation for the Arts, New Performance Programme 2006 -2007.
Chronotopia was performed by Rakesh MP, Hemabharathy Palany, Diya Naidu, Jyotsna M and Jayachandran Palazhy, accompanied by Chris Ziegler(Interaction design/Video), Thomas Dotzler ( Light Design) and Marije Baalman ( Interaction Design/Light), the TransMedia technical team, Programme Manager : Aliyeh Rizvi and Manager -Education & Development, Eliamma Rao.
Nakula Somanna, Faculty ( Attakkalari's Diploma in Movement Arts & Mixed Media ) also conducted an exciting workshop in Movement & Technique on the 21st,22nd and 23rd February 2009 for the dance community in Chennai.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
PURUSHARTHA ( 60 MNS )
Attakkalari’s multi-media production PURUSHARTHA is the result of an intense collaborative effort between Jayachandran Palazhy, artistic director Attakkalari and Kunihiko Matsuo musical director and digital artist, Japan. Conceived and developed over an extended period of research that included trips to Japan by Jayachandran Palazhy and stints at Attakkalari, Bangalore by Kunihiko Matuso.
Other key collaborators from Japan include Mitsuaki Matsumoto sound designer, and architect Naoki Hamanaka who designed the sets.
Choreographed by Jayachandran Palazy and performed by Attakkalari’s repertory company, the movement language is reflective of contemporary India yet like most of Attakkalari’s work influenced and informed by Indian physical and performance traditions ranging from the martial art form of Kalarippayattu from Kerala, to the classical dance form of Bharathanatyam.
A stark Zen-like, pristine white stage and backdrop designed by Hamanaka are transformed by Kunihiko Matuso’s digital wizardry. Layered imagery, constantly evolving and ever changing, respond to the dancers movements.
The dancers, led by Jayachandran, bring to light the emotional portrayal of a society in India, torn between the philosophy of her past and the stark reality of her present. Vibrant images from contemporary India metamorphose into abstract geometrical shapes resulting in a rich tapestry of aural and visual imagery, taking the audience through an electrifying and moving viewing experience.
Matsuo’s unusual and innovative score, further embellished by Matsumoto’s live digital sounds, combine with the seamless layers of light and shade that take the viewers back and forth between the real & the imaginary, the traditional & the modern, the philosophical & the practical in a unique sensorial journey that both assaults and embraces the senses.
Known for his cutting edge choreography, Jayachandran engages with the concept of PURUSHARTHA (roughly translated as ‘meaning of being’) through what is essentially an exploration into individual dilemmas, a journey through temporal and physical spaces, weaving in experience and imagination and resulting in a spectacular production.
Performed to packed audiences, PURUSHARTHA had its world premier at the Biennale Bonn in May 2006 and toured most of the major festivals in Europe, including the Venice Biennale, Frankfurt Book Fair, Munich Contemporary Dance Festival, Bologna Festival of Contemporary Dance, Poland Contemporary Dance Festival, Dusseldorf International Dance Festival, the Monaco Dance Forum and the Julidans Festival, Amsterdam. PURUSHARTHA has also been performed in Japan.
A team of brilliant young dancers trained at Attakkalari and led by Jayachandran himself, perform with agility and athleticism, their sinuous and sensual movements sometimes austere and at others sumptuous, casting a spell on the audience.
At the forefront of the Indian contemporary dance scene, Attakkalari’s performance is visually stunning, energetic and entirely unique. Across Europe and elsewhere PURUSHARTHA has received standing ovations from enthralled audiences.
Key Collaborators
1. Jayachandran Palazhy ,Artistic Director
Jayachandran Palazhy has trained in India in the dance forms of Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Indian folk dance and Kalarippayattu martial art, and in the UK, in Contemporary dance at the London Contemporary Dance School. He has also studied Ballet, TaiChi, Capoeira and African Dance and has toured widely in India as well as internationally. He works extensively as a freelance choreographer, teacher and consultant in different parts of the world and is in the forefront of the contemporary South Asian dance scene. His work often involves digital and interactive technology and he has collaborated with some of the most celebrated artists of this genre.
2. Kunihiko Matsuo
Kunihiko Matsuo was born in 1969 in Mito, Japan. Based in Tokyo, he specializes in interactive technology, audio-visual design and contemporary dance. He is a core member of Nest, a multimedia performance group in Japan. He is also a founder of CMprocess, an artists collective that is working on the border line between technology, performing arts and design, offering an integrated view on digital media system design.
3. Naoki Hamanaka
Naoki Hamanaka is an architect based in Tokyo, Japan. He is a board member of Nest, a multimedia performing art group based in Tokyo. He designs not only theatre sets but also the systems of performances. His aim is not only to design the objects but also design the triggers of activities.
4. Mitsuaki Matsumoto
Mitsuaki Matsumoto is a sound performer and sound and video creator based in Japan. He plays in different contexts; acoustic improvised music (bandoneon), electronic sound accompaniment for dance and also in collaboration with instrumentalists of jazz, with whom he has performed irregular and improvised music for concerts as well as projects.
ON PURUSHARTHA
“Watching Purushartha was like seeing the various impressions and perceptions about the colour white, the Japanese sense of the austere and stark, the Indian ethos of renunciation and the electric existence of sounds that define modernity.” – Chitra Mahesh, Deccan Chronicle, Chennai, February 16th 2008
“There also lies within the entire thing a Buddhist like serenity. This is not so much in an obvious was as in the way the sounds and the movements converge in the most ancient state of being – a sense of the silence within.” - Chitra Mahesh, Deccan Chronicle, Chennai, February 16th 2008
“The overall effect was of a monochrome palette that was severe yet dramatic, threadbare in ostentation yet rich in artistic impulses. The sheen of professionalism ran through every aspect; ‘Purushartha’ was in essence ‘new age’ artistry.” – Rupa Srikanth, The Hindu, Chennai, February 15th 2008
Attakkalari has managed to go beyond the customary projections on the cyclorama.”
– Nirmala Ravindran, India Today, Simply Bangalore, February 2008
It is one of those few combinations of science and art that when depicted on the stage give out soothing effect, something that is sensuous and touched the heart. – Antara Bose,
TOUR DETAILS
1.Travel
1. Artistes ( estimated) : 8-10
2. Attakkalari Performance Team : Technicals/Manager : 2 + 1
3. Japanese Artistes : 3
2.Stage size ( optimum): Available on request.
As per rider /white linoleum mat: 8m x 8 m
3.Technical Rider & Standard Equipment list :( Available on request)
4.Tour costs to be provided for
- Performance fee
- Air travel/Visa/Insurance
- Accomodation
- Per diem for all artistes
- Local transport
- Pre-performance rehearsal space
National and International Tours:
New Delhi, India February 16th 2008
Chennai, India February 13th 2008
Bangalore, India February 8th and 9th 2008
Yokohama, Japan September 22nd and 23rd, 2007
Amsterdam - Julidans Festival, Netherlands July 12th and 13th, 2007
Monaco Dance Forum, Monaco December 10th and 11th, 2006
Dusseldorf International Dance Festival, Germany November 11th and 12th, 2006
Lublin, Poland November 9th, 2006
Warsaw, Poland November 6th, 2006
Munich Festival of Contemporary Dance, Germany November 3rd and 4th, 2006
Bologna Festival of Contemporary Dance, Italy October 27th and 28th, 2006
Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany October 6th and 7th, 2006
Venice Biennale, Italy June 22nd and 23rd, 2006
Biennale Bonn, Germany: World Preview May 14th and 15th, 2006
Other key collaborators from Japan include Mitsuaki Matsumoto sound designer, and architect Naoki Hamanaka who designed the sets.
Choreographed by Jayachandran Palazy and performed by Attakkalari’s repertory company, the movement language is reflective of contemporary India yet like most of Attakkalari’s work influenced and informed by Indian physical and performance traditions ranging from the martial art form of Kalarippayattu from Kerala, to the classical dance form of Bharathanatyam.
A stark Zen-like, pristine white stage and backdrop designed by Hamanaka are transformed by Kunihiko Matuso’s digital wizardry. Layered imagery, constantly evolving and ever changing, respond to the dancers movements.
The dancers, led by Jayachandran, bring to light the emotional portrayal of a society in India, torn between the philosophy of her past and the stark reality of her present. Vibrant images from contemporary India metamorphose into abstract geometrical shapes resulting in a rich tapestry of aural and visual imagery, taking the audience through an electrifying and moving viewing experience.
Matsuo’s unusual and innovative score, further embellished by Matsumoto’s live digital sounds, combine with the seamless layers of light and shade that take the viewers back and forth between the real & the imaginary, the traditional & the modern, the philosophical & the practical in a unique sensorial journey that both assaults and embraces the senses.
Known for his cutting edge choreography, Jayachandran engages with the concept of PURUSHARTHA (roughly translated as ‘meaning of being’) through what is essentially an exploration into individual dilemmas, a journey through temporal and physical spaces, weaving in experience and imagination and resulting in a spectacular production.
Performed to packed audiences, PURUSHARTHA had its world premier at the Biennale Bonn in May 2006 and toured most of the major festivals in Europe, including the Venice Biennale, Frankfurt Book Fair, Munich Contemporary Dance Festival, Bologna Festival of Contemporary Dance, Poland Contemporary Dance Festival, Dusseldorf International Dance Festival, the Monaco Dance Forum and the Julidans Festival, Amsterdam. PURUSHARTHA has also been performed in Japan.
A team of brilliant young dancers trained at Attakkalari and led by Jayachandran himself, perform with agility and athleticism, their sinuous and sensual movements sometimes austere and at others sumptuous, casting a spell on the audience.
At the forefront of the Indian contemporary dance scene, Attakkalari’s performance is visually stunning, energetic and entirely unique. Across Europe and elsewhere PURUSHARTHA has received standing ovations from enthralled audiences.
Key Collaborators
1. Jayachandran Palazhy ,Artistic Director
Jayachandran Palazhy has trained in India in the dance forms of Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Indian folk dance and Kalarippayattu martial art, and in the UK, in Contemporary dance at the London Contemporary Dance School. He has also studied Ballet, TaiChi, Capoeira and African Dance and has toured widely in India as well as internationally. He works extensively as a freelance choreographer, teacher and consultant in different parts of the world and is in the forefront of the contemporary South Asian dance scene. His work often involves digital and interactive technology and he has collaborated with some of the most celebrated artists of this genre.
2. Kunihiko Matsuo
Kunihiko Matsuo was born in 1969 in Mito, Japan. Based in Tokyo, he specializes in interactive technology, audio-visual design and contemporary dance. He is a core member of Nest, a multimedia performance group in Japan. He is also a founder of CMprocess, an artists collective that is working on the border line between technology, performing arts and design, offering an integrated view on digital media system design.
3. Naoki Hamanaka
Naoki Hamanaka is an architect based in Tokyo, Japan. He is a board member of Nest, a multimedia performing art group based in Tokyo. He designs not only theatre sets but also the systems of performances. His aim is not only to design the objects but also design the triggers of activities.
4. Mitsuaki Matsumoto
Mitsuaki Matsumoto is a sound performer and sound and video creator based in Japan. He plays in different contexts; acoustic improvised music (bandoneon), electronic sound accompaniment for dance and also in collaboration with instrumentalists of jazz, with whom he has performed irregular and improvised music for concerts as well as projects.
ON PURUSHARTHA
“Watching Purushartha was like seeing the various impressions and perceptions about the colour white, the Japanese sense of the austere and stark, the Indian ethos of renunciation and the electric existence of sounds that define modernity.” – Chitra Mahesh, Deccan Chronicle, Chennai, February 16th 2008
“There also lies within the entire thing a Buddhist like serenity. This is not so much in an obvious was as in the way the sounds and the movements converge in the most ancient state of being – a sense of the silence within.” - Chitra Mahesh, Deccan Chronicle, Chennai, February 16th 2008
“The overall effect was of a monochrome palette that was severe yet dramatic, threadbare in ostentation yet rich in artistic impulses. The sheen of professionalism ran through every aspect; ‘Purushartha’ was in essence ‘new age’ artistry.” – Rupa Srikanth, The Hindu, Chennai, February 15th 2008
Attakkalari has managed to go beyond the customary projections on the cyclorama.”
– Nirmala Ravindran, India Today, Simply Bangalore, February 2008
It is one of those few combinations of science and art that when depicted on the stage give out soothing effect, something that is sensuous and touched the heart. – Antara Bose,
TOUR DETAILS
1.Travel
1. Artistes ( estimated) : 8-10
2. Attakkalari Performance Team : Technicals/Manager : 2 + 1
3. Japanese Artistes : 3
2.Stage size ( optimum): Available on request.
As per rider /white linoleum mat: 8m x 8 m
3.Technical Rider & Standard Equipment list :( Available on request)
4.Tour costs to be provided for
- Performance fee
- Air travel/Visa/Insurance
- Accomodation
- Per diem for all artistes
- Local transport
- Pre-performance rehearsal space
National and International Tours:
New Delhi, India February 16th 2008
Chennai, India February 13th 2008
Bangalore, India February 8th and 9th 2008
Yokohama, Japan September 22nd and 23rd, 2007
Amsterdam - Julidans Festival, Netherlands July 12th and 13th, 2007
Monaco Dance Forum, Monaco December 10th and 11th, 2006
Dusseldorf International Dance Festival, Germany November 11th and 12th, 2006
Lublin, Poland November 9th, 2006
Warsaw, Poland November 6th, 2006
Munich Festival of Contemporary Dance, Germany November 3rd and 4th, 2006
Bologna Festival of Contemporary Dance, Italy October 27th and 28th, 2006
Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany October 6th and 7th, 2006
Venice Biennale, Italy June 22nd and 23rd, 2006
Biennale Bonn, Germany: World Preview May 14th and 15th, 2006
Friday, March 6, 2009
CHRONOTOPIA (60 MNS) Multi media-Interactive
Though inspired by the Tamil epic `Chilappathikaram’, Attakkalari’s multi-media dance production does not directly re-interpret the original.Rather, it chooses to explore predominant themes from the text and in the process becomes an episodical journey, traversing layers of temporal and physical locations that often defy conventional notions of space and chronology. Establishing a link, between the landscape and the emotional as well as spiritual mindset of the protagonist, images from ordinary human existence encounter the intervention of inexplicable forces that change and catapult them out of orbit.
The performance by Attakkalari’s talented Repertory dancers, anchors on a central female character represented by three dancers. Chronotopia’s unique abstract movement vocabulary reflects and embodies the human circumstance, and in the process, time dissolves and dislocates, infusing the landscape with tenderness and loss.
Highly translucent traces of projected images (Christian Ziegler) , complemented by an abstracted light installation ( Chris Salter and Marje ), create an interactive context for the evocative performance, highlighted by Thomas Dotzler’s restrained light design.
Intricate choreography by Jayachandran Palazhy (along with the dancers) is set to an original, vibrant and melodic score by French composer Mathias Duplessy, (created in collaboration with Carnatic musicians from Bangalore).
Emotional, haunting and introspective, CHRONOTOPIA is an ode to the senses, a magical tour de force through the voyage of life.
Credits :
Artistic Direction : Jayachandran Palazhy
Choreography : Jaychandran Palazhy, along with the dancers.
Interactive Scenography: Chris Salter / Chris Ziegler
Interaction research/design (light): Marije Baalman / Chris Salter
Interaction design (video) : Chris Ziegler
Lighting Design : Thomas Dotzler
Music production, vocals & composition : Mathias Duplessy
Lighting programming: Marije Baalman
Lighting system design: Elio Bidinost / Harry Smoak
Sensing research/development : Joseph Malloch / Marije Baalman / Rodolfe Koholy
Costume Design: Jason Cherian & Anshu Arora
Male vocals ( Carnatic) : Balasubramniam Sharma
Female vocals ( Carnatic) : Neela Ramanujam
Mridangam : B.C Manjunath
Nadaswaram : M. Kodandaram
Key Collaborators
Jayachandran Palazhy
Jayachandran is Artistic Director, Attakkalari, and has trained in India in the dance forms of Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Indian folk dance and Kalarippayattu martial art, and in Contemporary Dance at the London Contemporary Dance School. He has also studied Ballet, Tai Chi, Capoeira and African Dance. He has been working extensively as a freelance choreographer, teacher and consultant in different parts of the world and is in the forefront of the contemporary South Asian dance scene. His work often involves digital and interactive technology and he has collaborated with some of the most celebrated artists of this genre. He is also Director of the Attakkalari India Biennial (International Festival of Dance and Digital Arts).
Christopher Salter
Christopher Salter received his Ph.D in the areas of theater and computer-generated sound at Stanford University. His work investigates the role of real time sound, image and technologies of interaction within the context of responsive environments and performance. He was awarded the Fulbright and Alexander von Humboldt Chancellor grants for research/work in Germany between 1993 -1995. Salter’s work has been shown internationally at venues such as Ars Electronica, Transmediale, Villette Numerique, V2, DTW/New York and SIGGRAPH, among others and has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, ID and Leonardo magazines. He is currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Design and Computation Arts at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.
Chris Ziegler
Chris Ziegler is Digital Artist with a Diploma in Architecture, 3 years acting background. The focus of his work lies in non linear visual media and interactive environments for performance. He received an Award “Young Art and New Media” in Munich with his first production “Scanned V” 2001 with Jayachandran Palazhy, followed by “Transavatar” production (2002) and “NAGARIKA” DVD-ROM (2006) . Since 1994 he works for Ballett Frankfurt and other companies on multimedia productions. He performed at transmediale Berlin, DANCE Festival Munich, VIA/EXIT France and other Festivals. He was lecturer and teacher at D.A.N.C.E (Dance Apprentices Network across Europe). At present he is “Associale Artist” at the Center for Art and Media, ZKM Karlsruhe
Thomas Dotzler
Thomas Dotzler is an experienced and versatile light designer. He has been associated with Attakkalari for three years and has worked on most of our important productions including PURUSHARTHA. His first visit was in 2005, when he worked with Kenneth Flak on “Uber”. This production was created during a three month workshop along with dancers from Attakkalari. He has also conducted workshops for Attakkalari’s Diploma in Movement Arts and Mixed Media as well as Facets, Attakkalari’s international choreographic laboratory.
Mathias Duplessy
Mathias Duplessy is a composer, guitarist, works on acoustic arrangements, is also a producer, vocalist and plays multiple instruments including the Mongolian stringed instrument the morin khuur. His range includes composing for long and short films, documentaries, theatre, dance and musicals. His unique energetic style is a combination of Flamenco, Classical, Asian and Gyspy Jazz. His musical travels include journeying through Senegal with Hamet Male, Brazil with Monica Passos, Portugal with Bevinda and Russia with Alexandre Loushik
Marije Baalman
Marije Baalman studied Applied Physics at the Technical University in Delft and graduated in February 2002 in Perceptual Acoustics. In 2001/2002 she followed the Sonology Course at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. She completed her Ph.D. on Wave Field Synthesis and electro-acoustic music in 2007 at the Electronic Studio of the Technical University of Berlin. Currently she is a post-doctoral researcher in Computation Arts at Concordia University in Montreal. Her research goes into the use of wireless networks for live performance (such as dance and music), and installations. She has performed and exhibited work across Europe (STEIM, WORM (NL), EXIT festival (F), Club Transmediale (D)) and beyond (Electrofringe (AU)). She is a contributor to "The SuperCollider Book" (MIT Press, Fall 2009).
Performed by
RAKESH : He has trained in Contemporary Dance, Bharathanatyam, Kalarippayattu, Capoeira, Yoga, Body Conditioning and Contact Improvisation and has also conducted several workshops. He is a senior member of the Attakkalari Repertory Company and is an active facilitator for the Community Class – Contemporary Dance.
HEMA BHARATHI : She has trained in Kuchipudi for thirteen years under Guru Vaijayanthi Kashi & Smt Suranda Devi. She is also trained in Contemporary Dance, Kalarippayattu, Contact Improvisation, Bharathanatyam, Ballet, Yoga, and Capoeira. She is a choreographer and a senior member of the Attakkalari Repertory.
JYOTSNA : She is experienced in several movement forms like Cinematic dance, Jazz, Choreography and Folk Dance. She also actively pursues her interests in Psychology, Theatre and Tabla. She is actively involved in our Education Outreach Programme, and is a member of the Attakkalari Repertory Company.
DIYA : She started her formal dance training at the age of eighteen with The Danceworx, New Delhi. She has studied ISTD Jazz Ballet, Modern Performance or Choreography Techniques, Kathak and Physical Theatre and has worked on Fusion based Choreographies. She is a facilitator for the Community Class-Contemporary Dance and is a member of the Attakkalari Repertory Company.
TOUR DETAILS
INDIA TOUR : DANCERS : 5 / MGR : 1 /TECH : 3 ( 9 people )
The performance by Attakkalari’s talented Repertory dancers, anchors on a central female character represented by three dancers. Chronotopia’s unique abstract movement vocabulary reflects and embodies the human circumstance, and in the process, time dissolves and dislocates, infusing the landscape with tenderness and loss.
Highly translucent traces of projected images (Christian Ziegler) , complemented by an abstracted light installation ( Chris Salter and Marje ), create an interactive context for the evocative performance, highlighted by Thomas Dotzler’s restrained light design.
Intricate choreography by Jayachandran Palazhy (along with the dancers) is set to an original, vibrant and melodic score by French composer Mathias Duplessy, (created in collaboration with Carnatic musicians from Bangalore).
Emotional, haunting and introspective, CHRONOTOPIA is an ode to the senses, a magical tour de force through the voyage of life.
Credits :
Artistic Direction : Jayachandran Palazhy
Choreography : Jaychandran Palazhy, along with the dancers.
Interactive Scenography: Chris Salter / Chris Ziegler
Interaction research/design (light): Marije Baalman / Chris Salter
Interaction design (video) : Chris Ziegler
Lighting Design : Thomas Dotzler
Music production, vocals & composition : Mathias Duplessy
Lighting programming: Marije Baalman
Lighting system design: Elio Bidinost / Harry Smoak
Sensing research/development : Joseph Malloch / Marije Baalman / Rodolfe Koholy
Costume Design: Jason Cherian & Anshu Arora
Male vocals ( Carnatic) : Balasubramniam Sharma
Female vocals ( Carnatic) : Neela Ramanujam
Mridangam : B.C Manjunath
Nadaswaram : M. Kodandaram
Key Collaborators
Jayachandran Palazhy
Jayachandran is Artistic Director, Attakkalari, and has trained in India in the dance forms of Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Indian folk dance and Kalarippayattu martial art, and in Contemporary Dance at the London Contemporary Dance School. He has also studied Ballet, Tai Chi, Capoeira and African Dance. He has been working extensively as a freelance choreographer, teacher and consultant in different parts of the world and is in the forefront of the contemporary South Asian dance scene. His work often involves digital and interactive technology and he has collaborated with some of the most celebrated artists of this genre. He is also Director of the Attakkalari India Biennial (International Festival of Dance and Digital Arts).
Christopher Salter
Christopher Salter received his Ph.D in the areas of theater and computer-generated sound at Stanford University. His work investigates the role of real time sound, image and technologies of interaction within the context of responsive environments and performance. He was awarded the Fulbright and Alexander von Humboldt Chancellor grants for research/work in Germany between 1993 -1995. Salter’s work has been shown internationally at venues such as Ars Electronica, Transmediale, Villette Numerique, V2, DTW/New York and SIGGRAPH, among others and has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, ID and Leonardo magazines. He is currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Design and Computation Arts at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.
Chris Ziegler
Chris Ziegler is Digital Artist with a Diploma in Architecture, 3 years acting background. The focus of his work lies in non linear visual media and interactive environments for performance. He received an Award “Young Art and New Media” in Munich with his first production “Scanned V” 2001 with Jayachandran Palazhy, followed by “Transavatar” production (2002) and “NAGARIKA” DVD-ROM (2006) . Since 1994 he works for Ballett Frankfurt and other companies on multimedia productions. He performed at transmediale Berlin, DANCE Festival Munich, VIA/EXIT France and other Festivals. He was lecturer and teacher at D.A.N.C.E (Dance Apprentices Network across Europe). At present he is “Associale Artist” at the Center for Art and Media, ZKM Karlsruhe
Thomas Dotzler
Thomas Dotzler is an experienced and versatile light designer. He has been associated with Attakkalari for three years and has worked on most of our important productions including PURUSHARTHA. His first visit was in 2005, when he worked with Kenneth Flak on “Uber”. This production was created during a three month workshop along with dancers from Attakkalari. He has also conducted workshops for Attakkalari’s Diploma in Movement Arts and Mixed Media as well as Facets, Attakkalari’s international choreographic laboratory.
Mathias Duplessy
Mathias Duplessy is a composer, guitarist, works on acoustic arrangements, is also a producer, vocalist and plays multiple instruments including the Mongolian stringed instrument the morin khuur. His range includes composing for long and short films, documentaries, theatre, dance and musicals. His unique energetic style is a combination of Flamenco, Classical, Asian and Gyspy Jazz. His musical travels include journeying through Senegal with Hamet Male, Brazil with Monica Passos, Portugal with Bevinda and Russia with Alexandre Loushik
Marije Baalman
Marije Baalman studied Applied Physics at the Technical University in Delft and graduated in February 2002 in Perceptual Acoustics. In 2001/2002 she followed the Sonology Course at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. She completed her Ph.D. on Wave Field Synthesis and electro-acoustic music in 2007 at the Electronic Studio of the Technical University of Berlin. Currently she is a post-doctoral researcher in Computation Arts at Concordia University in Montreal. Her research goes into the use of wireless networks for live performance (such as dance and music), and installations. She has performed and exhibited work across Europe (STEIM, WORM (NL), EXIT festival (F), Club Transmediale (D)) and beyond (Electrofringe (AU)). She is a contributor to "The SuperCollider Book" (MIT Press, Fall 2009).
Performed by
RAKESH : He has trained in Contemporary Dance, Bharathanatyam, Kalarippayattu, Capoeira, Yoga, Body Conditioning and Contact Improvisation and has also conducted several workshops. He is a senior member of the Attakkalari Repertory Company and is an active facilitator for the Community Class – Contemporary Dance.
HEMA BHARATHI : She has trained in Kuchipudi for thirteen years under Guru Vaijayanthi Kashi & Smt Suranda Devi. She is also trained in Contemporary Dance, Kalarippayattu, Contact Improvisation, Bharathanatyam, Ballet, Yoga, and Capoeira. She is a choreographer and a senior member of the Attakkalari Repertory.
JYOTSNA : She is experienced in several movement forms like Cinematic dance, Jazz, Choreography and Folk Dance. She also actively pursues her interests in Psychology, Theatre and Tabla. She is actively involved in our Education Outreach Programme, and is a member of the Attakkalari Repertory Company.
DIYA : She started her formal dance training at the age of eighteen with The Danceworx, New Delhi. She has studied ISTD Jazz Ballet, Modern Performance or Choreography Techniques, Kathak and Physical Theatre and has worked on Fusion based Choreographies. She is a facilitator for the Community Class-Contemporary Dance and is a member of the Attakkalari Repertory Company.
TOUR DETAILS
INDIA TOUR : DANCERS : 5 / MGR : 1 /TECH : 3 ( 9 people )
INTERNATIONAL TOURS : DANCERS : 5 /MGR : 1 /TECH : 4 ( 10 people )
STAGE SIZE :
TECHNICAL RIDER : Available on request
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION : Available on request : ( Performance CD /Press / Performance desc /Budget / Working arrangement / Performance photographs /Attakkalari info.
Chronotopia is supported by India Foundation for the Arts.
We also thank the French Embassy in India, the Delegation des Generales des Alliances Francaises en Inde and The Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada for their support.
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