Reinventing the synergy of energies through contemporary dance
That’s not how a woman should behave,’ ‘Be a goddess but don’t have a voice’, ‘Men don’t cry’, ‘Behave like a man’ — these are some patriarchal diktats that choreographer Bhavini Misra addressed in her dance production titled Ardhnariswara: Revisited, Reinvented and Redefined.
This contemporary dance production with the 12 performers explore the concept of half-man and half-woman that make a complete human being. They also attempt to explore the freedom of spirit and movement, seeking inspiration from dance forms — Chhau, Bharatnatyam and aerobics.
The dance act, Misra explains, is a journey of emotions that men and women experience reaching a conclusion that chaos outside can only be restored by seeking balance within. The costumes, too, reflect the theme. “Contemporary [dance] today is confused; it’s like a burning house. People are doing good stuff, but what’s the purpose? There’s no clarity. I like to make my project relatable. This production is a synergy of energies especially Shakti and Shiva,” she says.
This recital stemmed from Misra’s meeting with Bharatnatyam exponent Rama Vaidyanathan. “That meeting brought me closer to the concept of Shiva and Shakti. Akka (Rama) and I used to converse about what does it mean to be a man or a woman. She has done a piece on Ardhnariswara in a conventional manner, where she [touched upon] individual aspects of Shiva and Parvati. I got inspired.” Sudhana Shankar, a dancer, says, “This recital has challenged us mentally emotionally and physically. It helped us break free from the societal stereotypes.”