Experimenting, Officially

The result of the 10-week residency programme was 5OLO, a show of five conceptual dance pieces that will be presented in the city on Wednesday.

Five months ago, Bangalore-based dancer Mirra made her way to Delhi for an intensive residency programme, which involved conceptualising new choreographies. At the Gati Summer Dance Residency, Mirra, along with other dancers from across the country, was mentored by prominent artistes from India and the UK including Padmini Chettur, Kirsty Alexander and Sankar Venketswara.

“The idea was to challenge our thoughts and develop new works that are experimental in nature,” says Mirra. The result of the 10-week residency programme was 5OLO, a show of five conceptual dance pieces that will be presented in the city on Wednesday. Its premiere in Delhi and more recently in Bangalore showed the performances pushed the boundaries of experimental dance. The other dancers part of 5OLO include Mumbai’s Avantika Bahl, Delhi’s Rachnika Goyal and Riya Mandal and Sri Lanka’s Venuri Perera. The show will be followed by an interactive session with the audience.

Titled According to official sources…, Mirra’s performance will see her with a switchboard slung around her neck, as she explores concepts of external control. “The idea occurred when I was cleaning at home and stumbled upon the switchboard. Wherever we look, we’re surrounded by advertising and marketing, and they completely manipulate the minds of the masses. I’m showing this in a simple and accessible manner, with a touch of humour,” says the 35-year-old, who has trained in Kalaripayattu and Bharatanatyam. Avantika Bahl’s piece, 110048, M81 delves into the notion of home. Bahl, who lived in Delhi and London, before settling in Mumbai, says: “It’s about finding home within the body and explores what you carry along as you move from one home to another.”
shikha.kumar@expressindia.com

5OLO will be staged at Sitara Studio, Dadar, at 7 pm today.