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

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