Entries by shankar@yourwebster.com

The Dichotomy of The Goddess

July 23, 2018 in /by

There is a dichotomy to life that makes it so intriguing. Dichotomy gives color, shading, nuance, complexity, and through all this- tremendous scope for creative/artistic exploration. There is dichotomy in everything and in us, and I feel exploring that helps provide insight, understanding, and acceptance toward the world, and toward ourselves. Once many years ago, […]

Sanctuaries; part 1 – the creative process

August 9, 2017 in /by

The creative process feels strangely like dealing with my kid. Sometimes, when things are in flow – it feels magical and you want to jump for joy and show someone all the exciting discoveries. Other times, it is so frustrating you just want to scream loudly “I QUIT” and then binge watch TV undisturbed with a large bag of potato chips.

Sanctuaries; part 2 – beginning choreography

August 9, 2017 in /by

The challenge in this piece is in both embodying the characters (most of whom are animals), and also in communicating what they represent. The piece opens with the “dance of the Scientist.” In creating this, I have to ask myself the following questions: what are the associations with scientist?

Sanctuaries; part 3 – embodying the oppressed

August 9, 2017 in /by

Before I had set the choreography, I just played the music and improvised to it. Aditya has set an evocative Abheri melody for the mice who are brought into the lab and observing the pain and torture around them. As I danced it, my body trembled the way a frightened mouse would.

Sanctuaries; part 4 – after a break!!

August 8, 2017 in /by

I write this blog entry after completion of the performance. It was not intended to be that way but…..sometimes dancing gets in the way of writing!
There was a break in my choreographic process as I was performing another production, Jwala. And the way it has happened, with every performance of Jwala, I’m working with a…