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Chronotopia
A Multi Media Dance Theatre Production |
Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts at the
12th Bharat Rang Mahotsav, National
School of Drama
Bhopal: Sunday, January 17th,
6:00 PM: Antarang Theatre, Bharat Bhavan
New Delhi: Tuesday, January
19th, 9:30 PM: Abhimanch Theatre, NSD Campus
Duration: 60 Minutes (No Intermission) |
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| CHRONOTOPIA:
Dance Theatre Production |
Inspired by the
famous Tamil epic, Chilapathikkaram, Attakkalari’s multi-media
dance theatre production takes the audience through an episodic
journey traversing layers of temporal and physical locations
that often defy conventional notions of space and chronology.
It oscillates between memory and experience, and explores
human predicament in a time of rapid changes. Classical Tamil
poetry often employs a narrative style that establishes a
connection between the landscape and the emotional as well
as spiritual mind set of the characters, creating a geography
of mind and imagination. Inspired by this idea, CHRONOTOPIA
attempts to create a complex nonlinear dramaturgy by placing
deliberately stylized physical movements in a digitally constructed
and changing stage architecture. These physical movements
are abstractions of images derived from contemporary experiences,
imagination and memories, organized to create a sensorial
journey that is without chronology. |
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| Borders collapse, when
images from ordinary human existence – childhood, friendship,
marriage, motherhood, conflict and death – encounter the
intervention of inexplicable forces that alter life and catapult
it out of orbit. |
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| Anchoring on a central
female character represented by three dancers, the piece journeys
through rural, urban, historical, contemporary and even mythical
contexts. In the process, time dissolves and dislocates, infusing
the landscape with tenderness and loss. |
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| Abstract movement vocabulary
for the piece is created through improvisation, drawing on images
and events from contemporary life as well as imagined historical
and mythical situations. These movement phrases are further
developed using principles and aesthetics of Indian physical
and performance traditions resulting in a rooted yet vibrant,
composite yet distilled sensorial narrative. |
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| Performed by Attakkalari’s
uniquely talented Repertory dancers, the language itself is
an embodiment of the human circumstance. |
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Highly translucent
traces of projected images by Chris Ziegler, complemented by
an abstracted light installation by Chris Salter and Marje Baalman,
create an interactive context for the evocative performance,
highlighted by Thomas Dotzler’s restrained light design.
Intricate choreography by Jayachandran Palazhy (along with the
dancers) is set to an original, vibrant and melodic score by
French composer Mathias Duplessy, (created in collaboration
with Carnatic musicians from Bangalore).
Emotional, haunting and introspective, CHRONOTOPIA is an ode
to the senses, a magical tour de force through the voyage of
life. |
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| Credits: |
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| Artistic Direction : |
Jayachandran Palazhy |
Lighting system design: |
Elio Bidinost | Harry Smoak |
| Choreography : |
Jaychandran Palazhy, along with the dancers. |
Sensing research/developmen
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Joseph Malloch | Marije Baalman | Rodolfe
Koholy |
| Interactive Scenography: |
Chris Salter | Chris Ziegler |
Costume Design: |
Jason Cheriyan & Anshu Arora of Hidden
Harmony |
| Interaction research/design
(light): |
Marije Baalman | Chris Salter |
Male vocals: |
Shri Balasubramaniam Sharma/ Mathias Duplessy |
| Interaction design (video)
: |
Chris Ziegler |
Female vocal : |
Neela Ramanujam |
| Lighting Design : |
Thomas Dotzler |
Mridanga : |
B.C Manjunath |
| Music Composition &
Production : |
Mathias Duplessy |
Nadaswaram : |
M. Kodandaram |
| Lighting programming: |
Marije Baalman |
Physical Performers: |
Hemabharathy Palani, Sumesh V.M., Denny
Paul Machampilly, Diya Naidu, Jyotsna Baleshwar Rao. |
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| Director’s Note – by Jayachandran
Palazhy |
I have grown up hearing numerous versions of
the Tamil epic poem Chilapathikaram (The Anklet’s Tale).
The recent tumultuous changes in the world prompted me to reach
out to creative collaborators (choreographers, digital artists,
composers and dancers) to together imagine another version of
this age old story. We attempted to explore imagined notions
of time and space which went beyond specificities. We aspired
to use symbiotic residues of personal memories and experiences
particularly dealing with a sense of loss.
Using another aspect of theatre – the sensorial narrative
- this production undertook to weave together movement, sound
and visuals, using a contemporary sensibility. The movement
language aimed to experiment with the varied spaces (macro and
micro) embedded in Indian performative and physical traditions.
The interactive scenography alluded itself to the concept of
landscape in the poem Chilapathikaram - where the character’s
interior feelings are mirrored in the external landscape (“thinai”).
By trying to incorporate inherited cultural memories and emerging
technology, we hope that this production has contributed to
broadening the scope of movement theatre. |
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Jayachandran Palazhy
is an internationally sought after dancer, choreographer and
Artistic Director of Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts in
Bangalore, India. He is trained in India in the dance forms
of Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Indian folk dance and Kalarippayattu
(martial art), and in the UK, in Contemporary dance at the London
Contemporary Dance School. He has also studied Ballet, Tai Chi,
Capoeira and African Dance and has toured widely in India as
well as internationally.
He works extensively as a consultant in different parts of the
world and is at the forefront of the contemporary South Asian
movement arts scene. In addition, he has participated in artistic
residencies internationally, presented papers and lecture demonstrations
on subjects related to movement arts, and been the recipient
of several awards.
His work often involves digital and interactive technology and
he has collaborated with some of the most celebrated artists
of this genre. He also directs Attakkalari Bangalore Biennial
(international festival of dance and digital arts) and FACETS
(an international choreography laboratory). |
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| Past Reviews: |
| “It was artfully choreographed in its various
portrayals. The dance ballet does not adhere to a sequential
or linear narrative to convey a story, but rather it has been
evoked from the performer’s memory….the play somehow
leaves a mark on the audience. The play only proved that the
beauty of storytelling in abstract is more challenging to the
performers and the audience and adds depth to the experience
of the performance.” |
| - In “Beyond Time and Space”
By Madhuri Kalyan, Deccan Herald, Bangalore – February
13th, 2009 |
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| Additional Press Clips: |
| - “Spring
Dance” in India Today’s Simply Bangalore
Magazine – February Issue, 2009 |
| - “A Women Scorned”
The New Indian Express, Chennai – February 13th, 2009 |
| - “ The New Dance
Movement” in The Hindu, Metro Plus – February
14th, 2009 |
| - “Technology at
the Feet” in “Expresso”, Chennai –
February 15th, 2009 |
| - “A New Idiom”
in The Hindu, Chennai – February 18th, 2009 |
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| Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, Repertory
Company |
Committed to developing a context for contemporary
cultural expressions - particularly in the performance arts
–Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts– is an umbrella
organization for dance and digital arts. Attakkalari enables
collaborations in an international context through residencies
and training opportunities, working towards developing a contemporary
“South Asian body.”
Currently based in Bangalore, India and led by its Artistic
Director – Jayachandran Palazhy, Attakkalari has a wide
range of activities and interests. These activities include
Education Outreach, a Diploma in Movement Arts & Mixed Media,
Research & Documentation, an International Contemporary
Dance Festival, Technical Solutions and a Repertory Company.
Attakkalari’s Repertory Company
has evolved a unique movement language and is at the forefront
of interdisciplinary performance works in India. Drawing sustenance
from India’s immense wealth of performance traditions,
Attakkalari’s work is electrifyingly energetic and contemporary
reflecting the vibrancy of today’s Indian society. The
Repertory Company tours widely in India and abroad, performing
and receiving acclaim from audience and critics alike. |
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| Blog: http://attakkalarirepertory.blogspot.com/ |
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©
2006. Attakkalari. All Rights Reserved. |
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