Bengaluru: In February, the city will be the stage for more than 200 dancers from 20 countries who will be participating in the eighth edition of the Attakkalari India Biennial-2017.
The event is being organised by the Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, a 15-year-old organisation that has its office in Wilson Garden. The Biennial is one of South Asia’s largest international contemporary dance and movement arts festival.
“Dance students from all over the world are attracted to Bengaluru as the city is home to nearly a hundred dance companies that train students in Indian and Western contemporary presentations, choreography and social dances, including ballroom, salsa, bachata, jive and tango,” says Jayachandran Palazhy, Artistic Director, Attakkalari Centre, Bengaluru.
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Professional contemporary dancers from South Korea, South Africa, France, India, Spain, Poland, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Canada and Switzerland will perform at the 10-day festival from February 3 to 12.
Many of the performances will reflect the changes in the social and economic fabric of a community. For instance, on February 6, Mr. Palazhy’s Attakkalari Centre will showcase ‘Bhinna Vinyasa’, which will explore the migration of artistic communities from villages to cities. It will include the mridanga by Janardhana along with electronic instruments, even as vocals by Balu Sharma and Nattuvanar Pulakeshi will add to the harmony, explains Mr. Palazhy. “German composer Martin Lutz has processed the one-hour piece for my dance choreography,” said Mr. Palazhy who draws on traditional arts such as Bharatnatya, Kuchipudi and Kathak.
The performances will held in Ranga Shankara, Chowdaih Memorial Hall, Guru Nanak Bhavan and Alliance Francaise. Films will be screened at Max Mueller Bhavan.
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