MEIDHWANI: Echoes of the Body

Full-length dance production (60 minutes)

Tuesday 5th February 2013, 7pm

In an unraveling spiral- Attakkalari's new production, portrays individuals who are captives of circumstance and history. Mei Dhwani encapsulates the primordial relationship between human beings and the universe they inhabit, transcending cultural specificities.

Conjuring latent semiotic traces from traditional arts of South India, choreographer, Jayachandran's work, echoes a resonant collective memory while immersed in existing turbulence. Timeless human desires and contemporary predicaments are examined simultaneously by the use of alluring images of ancient pantheons and highly ritualized lives. MeiDhwani traverses universal predicaments creating an individuated sensorial narrative that oscillates between the imagined separated realms of body and soul.

Born from in depth research into the ancient Indian physical and performance traditions, the movement language of MeiDhwani draws sustenance from the geometric angularity and distilled clarity of the classical dance Bharatanatyam and from the abstracted animal motifs of the martial art form, Kalarippayattu. Directed by Attakkalari's Artistic Director-Jayachandran Palazhy and choreographed by him and the dancers, Mei Dhwani is performed by Attakkalari's renowned repertory company. Israeli composers and sound artists Patrick Sebag and Yotam Agam, use their experience of working with celebrated masters of Indian musical traditions to create a vibrant, sumptuous soundscape. Evocative lighting by Thomas Dotzler creates a ritualized arena which is located in a sliding frame bringing into focus selected portions of a continuously unfolding narrative. The riveting dance language along with the use of iconography, sound, colour and light create a sensuous, passionate work. MeiDhwani is magic - combining the fragility of solitude, the chaos of turmoil, and the melody of movement.

Artistic Direction: Jayachandran Palazhy

Choreography: Jayachandran Palazhy and dancers of the Attakkalari Repertory Company

Music/Sound: Design Patrick Sebag and Yotam Agam

Light Design: Thomas Dotzler

Costume Design: Himanshu and Sonali of Hidden Harmony

Additional costume design: Elan Design Studio

Dancers: Jayachandran Palazhy, Denny Paul, Diya Naidu, Keya Ann D'Souza, Hema Bharathy Palani, Parth Bharadwaj, Sumesh V.M,Santosh V.S and Sylvester Mardi,