June 22nd: Double bill

6:30 pm to 08:30 pm

Event 1.

Margam - Performed by Siddhhi Pillai.

Exploring within the framework of classical technique and music. This artist has grown a deeper appreciation of Bharatanatyam's elemental simplicity and wishes to share this potential for freedom within well-defined structures.

The simple geometry of Nritta, grounded footwork keeping time, weaved together with light-hearted, multidimensional storytelling.

Concept and Choreography : Siddhhi Pillai

Event 2.

The Body is a Map - Performed by Krishnakshi

A contemporary dance performance that reimagines the poem The Body Is A Map by Easterine Kire, an esteemed poet and author from Nagaland.

Through the retelling of the poem, the performance traces the bodily experiences of the performer that are situated in deep-seated gender hierarchies in a patriarchal society. It is an act of reclaiming the body while inviting the audience to collectively think through, feel through and move through questions/conflicts arising from gender hierarchies.  

The performer understands that her gender identity, caste, class and geopolitical locations distinguish her experiences from many others, yet such lived experiences continue to be shared across gender, caste, class and geographical barriers.

In performing this dance-poem collaboration, reimagining the poem by poet Easterine Kire from Nagaland, conceptualized, choreographed and performed by Krishnakshi from Guwahati, Assam, she hopes to work through gender-based experiences across borders.

Concept and choreography: Krishnakshi

Poem: Easterine Kire 

Music: Gillian Avril Kharshiing 

Costume: Phila, Rangchi & Krishnakshi 

Facilitated by: Lapdiang A. Syiem         

Special thanks: Nisha Abdulla, Lamar Juban & Godly Kallath

June 23rd: 

7:00pm onwards

Recommended viewing age - 16+

A 60 minute durational performance by Durga Venkatesan 

_‘I remember being kissed by my teacher’. _

Many such touches are forgotten or are still being revisited every day because: The Body Remembers

It is not easy to talk about being harassed. Thus, the artist decides to stand for 60 minutes to share her body and embody imprints of our collective experience of being touched inappropriately. 

The wish of the artist? To enable a brave space.

This performance was developed as part of the “Tell Me Your Story” workshop facilitated by Mohammad Ellyas Lehry (MA Performance Study, Norwegian Theatre Academy, Norway)