Can’t Let go : Akram Khan

      Yesterday I left you with a slight teaser of TOROBAKA and a glimpse into the magical synergy that dancers Akram Khan and Sylvie Guillem exhibited in “Sacred Monsters”. Today as I woke up, this exploration into the the-indefatigable-akram-khan seemed incomplete, and hence I thought I would present to you little snippets of his genius, his performance, and his passion for the art form. … Continue reading Can’t Let go : Akram Khan

The Indefatigable Akram Khan

    For this of you who do not know this man, myth, talent and creative genius Akram Khan, I present his latest creation TOROBAKA as part of 45 Days of Dance Stories.   But, first I must bow down to this dancer, choreographer, collaborator and magic-man – Akram Kkan, His energy and vitality, his cross disciplinary works of art, his duets, and his vision … Continue reading The Indefatigable Akram Khan

The Eyes and Face : The final frontier for a Dancer

For the Dancer, the body is integral, the mind the controller and the soul is the fuel that drives her expression, and the eyes and face where the expression is manifested, guiding the body into motion. So in this journey of discovering the Dancer’s Body over the last few days from feet, to torso, to head, I find myself unable to end this exploration for … Continue reading The Eyes and Face : The final frontier for a Dancer

A Dancer’s Life – Martha Graham

    Martha Graham has been for many dancers a source of great strength, inspiration and guidance. Her work, writings, performances, choreographies, and dance style have been a beacon of light for me. So today rather than extoll the virtues of this extraordinary individual, let me present o you her 3 part narration titled “A Dancer’s Life” and allow you to go on that journey … Continue reading A Dancer’s Life – Martha Graham

Head : Greeva Bheda, the Science of head movements.

Getting back to our upward trajectory of exploring the dancers body, we left off at Hands – the Power of Two, and now we are back with the Head as part of the 45 Days of Dance Stories blogging project. As a classical dancer, especially a Bharatnatyam Dancer, when I think of the head and its uses, I immediately think of Greeva Bheda or Sheero Bheda. … Continue reading Head : Greeva Bheda, the Science of head movements.

Hands – The Power of Two

    Last night was filled with an intense discussion between two architects and myself about the authority of attributing value to any art-form. Though the discussion was centered around the visual arts and the complex opinions that are polarised into “art for art’s sake” on one side and the idea of “form follows function” on the other, my take-away viz. a vis 45 Days … Continue reading Hands – The Power of Two

Arms – Catch and Release

  For most dancers honing their craft and body is an endeavour that stretches across a lifetime. It is a journey of the self through arduous hours of training, of bending and breaking the body into various positions, and drilling movement, sequences and steps within that same body. It is often about reaching a place within that is untapped, scared and unknown, and asking it … Continue reading Arms – Catch and Release

Hips : The Quintessential Bollywood Pelvic Thrust

    What is the history of the perlvic thrust? Sex. A natural movement made during coitus was co-opted by performers, rockers, musicians and Indian Film choreographers to titilate and shock audiences.   Made iconic in the West by the likes of Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, the pelvic thrust  dance-move carries with it a wealth of sexual innuendo. Then, is it any wonder that … Continue reading Hips : The Quintessential Bollywood Pelvic Thrust

Legs : Carry Me to the Moon and Back

      As a twelve year old fiddling around with my Das’s turntable and rummaging through his LP collection, I would often come across the strange, the weird and the wonderful. The “star” in this last category of pure joy and wonder had to be the soft and smooth notes of Frank Sinatara’s voice, carrying over melodies composed by the likes of Michel Philippe-Gérard and Anka. … Continue reading Legs : Carry Me to the Moon and Back

Feet – Move them like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

When we say dancer – the first body part that we immediately connect them to and visualise are the “Feet”.    Grounding us, allowing us to leap and stretch, to pause and pirouette, the dancers feet are where our “Souls” rest!    Battered and bruised, knocked and swollen, these feet are what aide us in our movement, trained to kick, flip, balance and flick they are in … Continue reading Feet – Move them like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers