Picking on the male antennae

A Male Ant Has Straight Antennae. No, this is not a chapter from a biology textbook on entomology

A Male Ant Has Straight Antennae. No, this is not a chapter from a biology textbook on entomology.

It is the name of Delhi-based contemporary dancer Mandeep Raikhy’s 2013 production inspired by Rahul Roy’s Little Book on Men.

It explores various forms of masculinity through stereotypes, caricatures, and relationships especially in the South Asian context.

Raikhy, managing director of Gati Dance Forum, is known for incorporating Indian classical dance, especially Bharatanatyam, in his contemporary acts. How does he come up with a unique name for the production?

Mandeep did thorough research for the act by observing men of various strata in his neighbourhood. He insists that the name is a result of a simple Google search for some specific masculine traits in the animal kindom.

For this production, he has collaborated with Japanese musician Yasuhiro Morinaga and Swiss lighting and video designer Jonathan O’Hear.  Catch Raikhy’s  act at NCPA’s Contemporary Dance Season this month.

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