Abstract concepts take shape

Fine Choreography

The first segment of ‘Platform 13’, a part of the ‘Attakkalari Biennial 2013’ that was held at Guru Nanak Bhavan in the City recently, explored some innovative concepts and fine talents. It was put together by four young choreographers from South East Asia, each  working around interrelated concepts and taking the audience by surprise. 

The performance began with the pieces Chaaya, Uruvam and Trikonanga by Hemabharaty Palani. Chaaya vividly portrayed the intense but silent trauma suffered during childhood. Uruvam, a video presentation, examined complex issues around trans-gender identities in India. The last presentation, Trikonanga, explored the ideas of body and space as networks of triangles. It was an explanative piece. “When I talk about the triangles in our body, it’s like smoke. One can see it and smell it, but it’s not clear. I want to make something abstract out of it,” says Hemabharathy. 

The session continued with ‘Genesis’ by Tushar Kalia, which explored the concept of energy and life when breathed into a formless entity. Commenting on his works, Tushar says, “The piece we showed here was created in three days.”An excerpt from Bardo Beings, by Diya Naidu, followed. Diya presented this work with Ronita Mukerjee. It was largely inspired by Sogyal Rinpoche’s ‘Tibetan Book of Living and Dying’. Through this work, she explored the concept of bardo— the point of transition during a life cycle. “The work shows the depiction of dreams, rituals and many points of transformation. I even took extracts of sessions with a hypnotherapist,” details Diya.

The segment concluded with Choy Ka Fai’s ‘What I think about when I think about dancing’. It was a graphical on-stage presentation of how electricity in the body can transform into digital muscle memory. Abhilash says, “This explored how every part of the body has so much energy, which comes out as an expression.”

Those who watched the programme were clearly impressed. “A lot of variety in practice and research was seen here, which encourages most performers to think out of the box,” states Shruthi Ghosh, a kathak dancer.