Weights and Measures

Once, when she had made it to the top, Nioche fell back to the floor.

French dancer Julie Nioche turned a dream of floating in space into a piece titled Nos Solitude.

When a stage has more cables and pulleys than a factory floor, you suspect this will be one of those raw performances best presented in a garage. Instead, dancer Julie Nioche took Kamani Auditorium on a meditative journey on Tuesday as she presented Nos Solitude or Our Solitude as part of DanSe DialogueS, an Indo-French festival of contemporary dance.

More than 80 weights were suspended from cables and, as the guitar droned, Nioche hooked herself to these by her hands, shoulders, waist and feet. Looking like a puppet, she began to move her body — sometimes jerky, sometimes smooth and always strong — in an attempt to rise to the top. The weights rose and fell with her every action, as a metaphor for the eternal human desire to touch the zenith and overcome the dead weights that pull us down. Once, when she had made it to the top, Nioche fell back to the floor. The piece reached out to the audience in deeply personal ways — evident from the crowd that surrounded the dancer after the show. Excerpts from an interview with Nioche:

Rise of Machine

I had dreamt about this piece, that I was in the air by myself with strings attached to me in such a way that, when I moved, some object would move in space. I worked with scenographer Virginie Mira and asked a technician specialising in cinema special effects to create a machine. People wonder how the weights and counterweights work and it fires their imagination. I like to leave the space and mystery for audiences to think about.

Early Steps

As a child, I was hyperactive and needed to do something with my energy so my mother put me into dance. Dance was the part of my life where I was free. I have continued to keep a small part of my life to be free.

Dance and Science

I am also interested in how the human machine works, the relationship between body, emotions, sensations and thoughts. To understand this, I dance, and I wanted more so I began to study psychology and osteopathy. This is not my first time in India, I had come on a grant from 2007 to 2009 to work on Kalari massage because I am a dancer and osteopath. I worked on the fact that Kalaripayattu martial arts practitioners have to be like doctors because they must know how to take care of injuries. I would like to continue this research.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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