Watch artist perform Bharatnatyam to Electronica

Witness some serious creative change in Delhi's classical culture at the expression experiments

Delhi's arts have never known any bounds. Every second gig here is a jugalbandi, every third classical rendition some sort of a fusion. And the capital's just climbed a rung higher with 'The Expression Experiments', an interdisciplinary evening that shows the evolution of the performing arts with a might and modernity hitherto unmatched. Age-old Bharatnatyam embraces electronica, old school rock rubs shoulders with B-town bulls''t and visual jockeys animate backgrounds even as live arts light up the scene. Here's the best of the blend.

Doing up the danceu00a0
In the 45-minute performance by acclaimed Bharatanatyam exponent Jayalakshmi Eshwar, the live act is juxtaposed with visuals by B.L.O.T. "Cultural music will be appreciated by the younger generation only if we inculcate changes that appeal to them. But please note, we aren't playing with the essence of the sacred dance form. It will just add a new feather to it. There is a piece based on Goddess Shakti, followed by a traditional dance that talks about the rules of dancing," says Jayalakshmi. Cameras will be installed at multiple angles to help viewers gain a wider perspective.u00a0

Guitar meets sitar
The 60-minute performance of Indian and Western classical music explores the shared nuances of both. Live visuals and narratives by audiovisual ensemble B.L.O.T will add an attractive punch to the solo performance by famed classical guitarist Shyamant Behal. Shyamant is one of those rare people who very swiftly shift from old school to new ones, and yet don't disappoint. There is also a moving jugalbandi between tabla and sitar exponents Somnath and Amitabh. "We want to enlarge the domain of Indian classical music. If you look at the content of the visuals that we will be playing, it will change the way you look at Indian culture," promises BLOT boy Avinash.

Nucleya + Thiruda's New Culture Mash-Up
This one's a performance by Udyan Sagar, a globetrotting new age music producer who has been part of some remarkable Indian electronic bands, like Bandish Projekt and Order of the Essence. The show will bring you face-to-face with his peculiar and diverse style of drum-n-bass, dubstep, electro and Bollywood remixes. "We will cut music samples from the videos and then mix it live. So everything will be created on the spot," he explains. Udyan, better known as Nucleya, has teamed up with B.L.O.T for a live performance project meant for a sit-down audience. This association, christened New Culture Mash-Up, cuts music and mixes it with content of tasteless films, bad television and popular global and local culture to create humour that's as mad as it can get.
The Expression Experiments
When: Thursday, April 29
At Triveni Kala Sangam, Tansen Marg
Timings: 6:30 9 PM
Passes of Rs 200 available at Mocha outlets
Entry free for students