How somatic wisdom guides this contemporary dance in Mumbai

Come dusk on February 29 the stage at the National Centre for Performing Arts will witness a carnal kinesis Bodies will shrink and stretch to reveal corporal movements set against a digital canvas Commissioned by the Museum of The Museum of Art amp Photography Bengaluru this visual backdrop has been designed by Kunihiko Matsu a Japanese graphic artistSpectrum 2024 the annual dance festival at NCPA commenced in 2018 to unify various Indian dance forms under one roof informs Dr Swapnokalpa Dasgupta head of the dance department at the National Centre for Performing ArtsThe last leg of the festival concludes with lsquoContemporary Dancersquo which will be performed by a troupe of 8 movement artists led by Jayachandran Palazhy the artistic director at Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts Bengaluru In an interaction with Midday the duo takes us through ancient Indian dance wisdom and the need to preserve it and prepare a discernible audienceSomatic relating to the body as opposed to mindSpeaking to Midday on a Zoom call Palazhy demystifies somatic arts by circularly tracing his fingers ldquoWhat you saw was a defined movement When I engage my gaze it acquires an additional layer of dimension And now if I trace a bigger circle the movement becomes macro inhabiting a larger spacerdquoAs each movement unfolds it activates various body parts a process Palazhy describes as rewiring the body Consequently every motion sets off a chain reaction permeating spaces and igniting energy on an atomic levelThe dance maestro emphasises that to fully grasp the essence of somatic movement as an artist one must possess exceptional multitasking abilities This entails simultaneously inhabiting the physical and the imaginative realmsmdashbut also in a temporary way as dictated by the musicFurthermore with advancements in technology and visual arts an artist must upskill herself to navigate elements beyond mere lighting Breaking new ground in their field this oneofakind contemporary dance blends physical expression with digital simulations uniting the realms of the tangible and the visualSomatic wisdom embedded in Indian dance traditionsThe core idea behind the choreography is in line with Attakkalarirsquos motto which finds its roots in traditional physical wisdom innovation and technology ldquoAs a part of our Nagarika online interactive archive on Indian somatic expressions we attempt to unearth the concepts of body and principles of movement about the somatic wisdom embedded in Indian performance and physical traditionsrdquo informs PalazhyUpon conducting months of research the team extrapolates the newfound information to process contemporary experiences aspirations memories and imagination which further informs their choreographyPalazhy takes us back in time when Indian dance evolution underwent an obstruction ldquoBecause of our colonialist past we had a little break in our natural development of our dance formsrdquo He highlights the necessity for contemporary practitioners be it in Bharatanatyam Mohiniyattam Kathak Kuchipudi or his own experience to integrate our rich heritage and ancient dance wisdom into the ongoing development of our art formsldquoOur goal is to preserve the strength of our tradition while also embracing evolution as it is integral to defining our identity Indias identity must remain dynamic rather than stagnant This belief has driven our efforts over the years during which weve explored various subjectsrdquo he addsNarrating tales with dance movementsThe presentation will include different themes exploring various aspects of human existencePrayer of a different kind Kabirrsquos poem set to tune by Kumar Gandharva is a piece developed and performed by Attakkalarirsquos rehearsal director and choreographer Hemabharathy Palani who moves effortlessly to the iconic music of acclaimed singer Bindhu MaliniReflections draw inspiration from the distilled geometry and poetic grace of classical dance Bharatanatyam and portray the inner sanctity and elegance through the precision and skill of the moves of the dancersNava Durga Created during the lockdown phase and based on the images of Goddess Durga by nine contemporary female painters this piece explores the plight of contemporary Indian women their trials and tribulations and their fight for justice and equalityVanna Vativukal explores the male and female energies that exist within us particularly the playful nature of the period of courtship Set to specially composed music by MIDIval Punditz images of rites of passage of time and rituals as well as elements such as water are invoked in this celebration of sensualityJeeve Pravah Set in response to the poignant sight of migrants journeying back to their distant villages amidst Indiarsquos sudden lockdown due to Covid19 Jeeva Pravaaha peeks into human experiences and memories diverging from glorifying Indiarsquos megacities or their architecture Portraying the city as dynamic rather than immutable this piece is much like the changing skyline of MumbaiIt delves into the intricate human connections expressed by great poets of the era envisioning freedom from grandeur and praising wandering devotees carrying divinity within Seamlessly blending heritage memories and contemporary cityscapes the performance unfolds the transformation of the notion of homemdashfrom a refuge to a place evoking seclusion and tensionThe music for this performance has been crafted by Bindu Malini and MD Pallavi both of whom are acclaimed singers and composers having received national awards for their work They primarily chose to work within classical traditions albeit with a contemporary twist Rather than strictly adhering to the classical genre they draw inspiration from itldquoYou can also discern the influence of the Ragas in their work with some wellknown songs such as snippets from Kumar Gandharvas repertoire includedrdquo remarks PalazhyldquoI believe the audience can anticipate a multifaceted experience combining both auditory and visual elements With multiple layers incorporated theres something to appeal to everyone Whether youre intellectually engaged and reflective or simply seeking artistic enjoyment plenty will captivate your interestIf youre someone who responds to performances on a visceral and sensory level theres also something tailored for you In essence this experience caters to everyone spanning from children to adultsCultivating a discernible audienceOver the past 14 years Palazhy has made a deliberate effort to educate himself recognising that many art forms are often overlooked in our education system However with the recent overhaul of the national education policy theres a growing acknowledgment of the importance of creative arts education in fostering a knowledge economy This emphasis on creativity is evident in schools and colleges including Attakalarirsquos diploma program which attracts students primarily from Mumbai and Maharashtra especially PuneThrough their Mobile Academy initiative the institute has had the privilege of teaching at various esteemed institutions such as the National Film Institute in Pune the National School of Drama NIFT Fashion Technology Institute Srishti School of Art and Design and several universities including IIT HyderabadldquoAs an arts organisation we understand that our role extends beyond mere performances we aim to cultivate an audience that is both informed and discerning in their appreciation of the arts In Indian aesthetics we recognise that the creation of Rasa is not solely the performers responsibility but emerges from the dynamic interaction between performer and audience encompassing various dimensions such as energy metaphor symbolism and imageryrdquo outlines PalazhyIn the realm of education he advocates for the idea that dance embodies simultaneous inhabitation of multiple spaces Commenting on the link between body movements and music he states that neuroscience underscores the profound impact of dance and music education on cognitive development shaping childrens cognition memory imagination and creativity by forging new neural pathways Thus integrating arts education into the curriculum holds immense significance in nurturing wellrounded individualsReflecting on my journey Palazhy recognises dance as a profoundly intellectual pursuit manifesting in physical form while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of the present to touch upon the future