Dance ’n’ silence

Guru Nanak Bhavan is partly filled with people. Most of them sit close to the stage creating an intimate theatre ambience. We were there for Facets 2017, by young dancers and choreographers as part of Attakalari India Biennial. The works presented progressed from solo to duet and group. The performers explored their bodies by dancing to music or silence using props. Contemporary dance surprises you all the time. Like a dancer moving in such absolute silence that you can hear them breathe while moving, creating an innate rhythm. MetroPlus speaks to three choreographers about what inspired their work

Karnataka : Bengaluru , 04/02/2017 . Surabhi Jain Dancer and Choreographer with dancers during the Facets 2017 organised by Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts at Gurunanak Bhavan in Bengaluru on 4th February 2017 . Photo Bhagya Prakash K

Called Do you have a Reservation , this piece was performed by Surabhi, Asha Ponikiewska and Sylvester Mardi. Music, a prop and lot of narration was used. The piece depicted travel and journey and included a lot of floor movements, lifts and jumps.

Trained in bollywood dancing and jazz, Surabhi took to contemporary dance five years ago. “My choreography was all about journeys – train, bus etc. It was also about space constraints – personal or physical. People tend to ask personal questions, which is what I wanted to show. And even when you reach your destination, you have not actually completed your journey for you again take off to another destination.”

She has given up bollywood dancing as “I felt it was treating my body as an object. I did not like the way I had to throw my looks or the way in which I moved my body in that style. It felt more like a show. Contemporary dance is more about an internal journey, about how you can express your soul to those around you in simple ways.