Bardo interprets the idea of life after death

This production experiments with contemporary dance and kathak 
A still from Bardo
A still from Bardo

The liminal state between death and rebirth is an idea that continues to intrigue the human psyche. How one chooses to perceive and express the concept is subjective. But for two Canadian dancers Joanna de Souza and Misty Wensel, this phase has sparked off a thought. They are exploring this abstract proposition through Bardo, a dynamic kathak and contemporary dance performance. 
Featuring nine dancers and three musicians (who play original live music), the production is named after the Tibetan Buddhist term, bardo, that signifies the state between death and rebirth. “We have been interested in the concept of the ‘finite’ for some time. How it dictates, confines and frees us from our earthly existence and beyond,” writes Joanna in an email interaction. It’s taken three years to create Bardo, and this weekend, it premieres in Bengaluru. It’s a one-hour piece featuring solo, duet, quarter and full-group explorations. 
“Elements of pure kathak, pure western contemporary and all the in-between vocabulary are dictated through the narrative. We have consciously created spaces to ensure both dance forms shine through,” she explains. 
Joanna has done her masters in kathak from the Prayag Sangit Samiti in Allahabad, while Misty is a collaborator, dancer and choreographer with the Canadian dance troupe, FadaDance. Bardo is set to live music that attempts to create a stimulating and transcendent experience for the audience. Explaining the intention behind creating this piece, Joanna says, “There is no escaping death. Our performance, created through our own interpretations, celebrates all facets of the universal experience in being human.”

Entry free. February 2, 7 pm. At Seva Sadan, Malleswaram. 
Details: 23348645


ayeshatabassum@newindianexpress.com
 @aishatax

 

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