Premiere Louvre Abu Dhabi 2022
Choreography Aditi Mangaldas
Russell Maliphant
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Lighting Fabiana Piccioli
Michael Hulls
Willy Cessa
Music Shubha Mudgal
Aneesh Pradhan
Andy Cowton
Olga Wojciechowska
An incredible triple bill from award-winning dancer and choreographer Aakash Odedra featuring Echoes, CUT and Constellation. A mesmerising evening of three solos choreographed by acclaimed artists Aditi Mangaldas, Russell Maliphant and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. The works draw on Aakash’s classical background in kathak and bharatanatyam and create a unique fusion of contemporary and South Asian dance. This is the first time these three works have been performed together, offering a rare opportunity to experience an astonishing evening of dance by one of the most talented British South Asian dancers of his generation.
An exceptionally agile dancer who, it appears, has no trouble slipping between styles, effortlessly multilingual
- The New York Times
From the off, Odedra surprises. Instead of wearing the bells on his ankles, and to a plaintive song, he swings them in a circle of light. They flash and glitter as they slice through the beams, thudding as they strike the floor. A cascade of ghungroos dangle in one corner like a glistening waterfall, individual ones snaking across the floor in rivulets of gold.
Jump into a world where words and letters take flight with Aakash Odedra Company’s Little Murmur.
Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, Aakash Odedra found school very challenging. Defined by his learning difficulties, not his abilities, dance became his means of expression.
Based on his own hugely moving and international award -
winning show Murmur 2.0, Little Murmur is Aakash’s funny, honest and heartfelt conversation about the trials, and the joys, of
living with dyslexia.
Combining visual design and technology with dance and humor, Aakash explores warped and exaggerated realities of living in a world you can struggle to process. Watch bodies and
words fly like flocks of birds, a murmuration, a little murmur.
dancing combines with digital imager to portray the confusion ad alienation his dyslexia caused.
- The Guardian
Murmur is the opposite of opaque, a revelation of a world of wonder inside the mind
In this heady world of symbolism, under the weight of history and identity, Odedra and Hu are electric.
- The Guardian
Premiere Asia TOPA 2020
Co-producing/commissioning partners Asia TOPA, Arts Centre Melbourne; Birmingham Hippodrome; Curve, Leicester; Royal Ballet; Shanghai International Dance Centre, Theatre National de Chaillot.
Supporting partners British Council; Jacob’s Pillow, USA; Peacock Contemporary Dance Company, Kunming; Playking Foundation; Sidney Myer Fund; Victoria Government.
Choreography Aakash Odedra Hu Shenyuan
Dramaturgy Lou Cope
Lighting Yaron Abulafia
Score Nicki Wells
Set Tina Tzoka
Costume K H Lee
Find out more online using the QR code!
AAKASH ODEDRA COMPANY
Billed as a contemporary dance duet, Samsara is so much more than that. Although in this instance, that would be enough – so utterly compelling are the two men performing it – but the stage is also alive with music, an art installation and lighting design so beautiful, it is almost a show in itself.
- The Scotsman
Aakash and Hu are regarded as the finest examples of their specific forms of dance in their native cultures, UK/India and China respectively. Aakash has garnered worldwide attention for his impeccable and virtuosic Kathak performances and Hu has been described by Chinese Dance icon Yang Liping as ‘A gifted Soft Body’.
They have found that despite not sharing a common spoken language, their bodies yearn to share movement, stories and to explore these ineffable frontiers between themselves.
Composer, Nicki Wells is blessed with an unparalleled memory for melody and vocal technique from virtually any culture. She is able to easily leap from folk, French hip-hop, deep gospel, jazz or choral vocals to Indian classical or Arabic inflections as if all were emanating directly from her soul.
She has performed around the world as lead vocalist with award-winning composer Nitin Sawhney.
Touring Information
Day before get-in required
Performance time 60mins
Stage dimensions 12m width, 11m depth
Artists on stage 5
Company on the road 10-11
Inspired by Journeyto the West, a major text of China created during the Ming Dynasty, SAMSARA tells the story of how Buddhist philosophy was sought by a monk’s arduous journey through India and finally brought to China.
Sharing cultures and the search for knowledge are age-old and suggest the human need for interdependence for its own advancement. This is as relevant today as it has ever been.
ON AAKASH ODEDRA
‘“Rising” reveals an exceptionally agile dancer who, it appears, has no trouble slipping between styles, effortlessly multilingual.’ New York Times
‘Aakash Odedra transfixes and transports his audience, receiving a deservedly rapturous response.’ Sydney Morning Herald
ON HU SHENYUAN
‘Hu Shenyuan is outstanding… He moves with an eerie suppleness, the delicate, voluptuous coils of his body evoking a rare hot-house beauty.’The Guardian
“ (Hu Shenyuan) moves almost like a ballerina, with beautifully pointed feet and lyrical contortions.” New York Times
Aakash and Hu are regarded as the finest examples of their specific forms of dance in their native cultures, UK/India and China respectively. Aakash has garnered worldwide attention for his impeccable and virtuosic Kathak performances and Hu has been described by Chinese Dance icon Yang Liping as ‘A gifted Soft Body’.
They have found that despite not sharing a common spoken language, their bodies yearn to share movement, stories and to explore these ineffable frontiers between themselves.
Composer, Nicki Wells is blessed with an unparalleled memory for melody and vocal technique from virtually any culture. She is able to easily leap from folk, French hip-hop, deep gospel, jazz or choral vocals to Indian classical or Arabic inflections as if all were emanating directly from her soul.
She has performed around the world as lead vocalist with award-winning composer Nitin Sawhney
Production Credits
Artistic Director: Aakash Odedra
Choreographers and Dance Artists: Aakash Odedra and Hu Shenyuan
Dramaturg: Lou Cope
Composer: Nicki Wells
Lighting Design: Yaron Abulafia
Set: Tina Tzoka
Producer: Anand Bhatt
Numbers on the road: 10
On Stage: 5 (2 dancers/3 musicians)
Rehearsal Director: 1
Sound Technician: 1
LX Technician: 1
Stage/Scenery:1
Company Manager: 1
2 from Shanghai/8 from Europe
Tech Demands: 1 day before get-in, strike on same evening after the show, Detailed tech Spec available in early 2020, indicative tech spec available from Oct 2019
Freight: Up to one large container
More information will be confirmed through 2019 and early 2020
5-7th March 2020 – Asia TOPA, Melbourne, Australia (World Premiere)
Where to see Samsara on tour:
Postponed…
5-7th March 2020 – Asia TOPA, Melbourne, Australia (World Premiere)
13-15th March 2020 – International Dance Center, Shanghai, China
12th June 2020 – Birmingham Hippodrome, UK
23-24th June 2020 – The Lowry, Salford Quays, UK
8-10th October 2020 – Dance Umbrella/Royal Opera House, London, UK
27th-28th October 2020 – Curve Theatre, Leicester, UK
4th-7th November 2020 – Chaillot National Centre De Danse, Paris, France
Performed by seven dancers from Turkey, #JeSuis won the AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AWARD at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017 (performed at Zoo Venues) while still in its creation period. Following the world premiere at NYU Abu Dhabi in February 2018, #JeSuis made its European debut at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
“the feral quality of the choreography and the mastery of the dancing match the intensity of its subject.” Writing about Dance
Notions of oppression are not specific to any time, country or religion. Sometimes the oppressor is a political figure, sometimes a culture or sometimes a friend; and sometimes, of course, it is inside us: our fear, cowardice, expectation and doubt.
#JeSuis began as a conversation with these extraordinary dancers about what it is like to be living in Turkey right now, but quickly began to occupy a much more universal landscape.
The piece explores oppression in all its guises, layers, and contexts. It acknowledges that some acts of oppression are more loudly heard and deeply felt than others. While #JeSuisCharlie brought solidarity, comfort and solace to a world grieving the horrific attacks in Paris 2015, other equally appalling attacks took place in Kabul and Istanbul; but failed to capture the attention of (social) media in quite the same way.
#JeSuis is dedicated to all the people whose stories and plights have not yet been “hashtagged”, left untold. Erased from the past, unowned in the present and vulnerable in the future. Whether they are in prison, in a refugee camp, or a house with closed curtains, and whether it’s their freedom of movement, speech, religion or liberty that is at stake, or their right to marry, love, study and protest – we make this show in honour and support of them. It comes from the belief that the strength of the collective, and our ability to speak out and together will see us through to brighter times.
In English #JeSuis translates to I Am, but the show also says I Exist, I Matter.
Upcoming performances:
7th/8th November – Lilia Baylis, Sadler’s Wells, London
12th November – Salle Mercure Pierre, Montreal, off-CINARS
17th November – The Arts Depot, Finchley, London
20th November – Lakeside Arts, Nottingham
24th November – Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales
26th November – The Lowry, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester
Concept, Direction, Choreography: Aakash Odedra
Composer: Nicki Wells
Dramaturg: Lou Cope
Lighting Designer: Alessandro Barbieri
Production Manager: Salvatore Scollo
Set and Costumes: Ryan Dawson Laight
Movement & Rehearsal Director: Konstandina Efthymiadou
Created and Performed by:
MELISSA UGOLINI
SU GUZEY
BERIL SENOZ
GIZEM AKSU
YASIN ANAR
EVRIM AKYAY
TANER GUNGOR
Producer: Anand Bhatt
Coordination: Michelle Osorio
Production Images: Sean Goldthorpe
A special thanks to Bill Bragin, Alana Barraj, Chris Pye, Fiona Allan, Chris Sudworth, Anu Giri, Gregory Nash, David Hill, Pelin Basaran, Matt Fenton, Chris Stafford, Suba Das, Nikolai Foster, Theresa Beattie, Eva Martinez, Eckhard Thiemann, Debra Levine, David Massingham, Lucie Mirkova, Kami Manns, Toby Norman Wright and Laura Evans
Generously supported through Lottery Funding by Arts Council England
Co-commissioning partners:
The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi; WORLD PREMIERE, 7th-9th February 2018
Paradise is Here, Switzerland;
Journeys Festival International (ArtReach), UK;
Commissioned by The Movement -a partnership between Birmingham Hippodrome, Sadler’s Wells and The Lowry;
Curve Theatre (Leicester) UK;
Contact Theatre (Manchester) UK;
Research and Development Supported by the British Council in Turkey and DanceXchange (UK)
Kafkas Track: “Deeper” written and performed by The Soft Moon permission courtesy of Captured Tracks and Low Profile NYC
“British Indian dancer Aakash Odedra is simply breathtaking.” Paula Citron, Globe and Mail, Toronto
Aakash Odedra is a nominee for a 2016 “Bessie” in the category of “Outstanding Performer” for RISING at the Skirball Center in New York.
The first production of Aakash Odedra Company, RISING, is an astonishing hit. It is an evening of work performed by Aakash, featuring solos created by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Akram Khan and Russel Maliphant and features lighting by Michael Hulls and Michael Cessa.
All use Aakash’s background in Kathak and Bharatanatyam to createanewflavor of contemporary dance. Aakash also presents a contemporary Kathak with his own choreography. The production has won numerous awards including the ‘Danza e Danza Award’ (Italy), Best Male Performance ‘Dora Award’ (Canada), ‘Audience Award’ at Dance Week (Croatia) and ‘Most Original Exploration of One Segment of Theatrical Language’ at the Novi-Sad Festival (Serbia).
BIOGRAPHY
Aakash was born in Birmingham and trained in the classical Indian dance styles of Kathak (Nilima Devi, Leicester and Asha Joglekar, India) and Bharat Natyam (Chitraleka Bolar, Birmingham and Chhaya Kantaveh, India). His early development in the United Kingdom saw support from Sampad (including support in a development bursary) and Akademi (through a major choreographic bursary).
In 2009, Aakash performed a solo choreographed by Kumudini Lakhia titled Maati Re at the Svapngata Festival at Sadler’s Wells curated by Akram Khan. Khan followed this with a period of mentorship, allowing Aakash to develop contemporary movement. He took part in the European Network of Performing Arts’ 2010 ChoreoLab in Serbia through Dance Umbrella. Also in 2010, he performed a duet with Sanjukta Sinha choreographed by Kumudini Lakhia titled Tatha. He incorporates that training in a unique synthesis with contemporary dance, both in his choreography and his creations with other choreographers.
Aakash Odedra founded his Company in 2011 as a vehicle for commissioning solos and for him to develop his own choreographic work. His debut full length solo Rising featured new short works created on him by Akram Khan, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Russell Maliphant. As choreographer, he was commissioned to create a piece for “JamesBrown: Get on the Good Foot” (Apollo Theater, New York ) and the Opera God’s Little Soldier (Theater Freiburg), The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the closing of the London Cultural Olympiad.
Nritta (Kathak) – Choreographed by Aakash Odedra
Music arranged by Aakash Odedra
In The Shadow Of Man – choreographed by Akram Khan
Lighting by Michael Hulls
Music by Jocelyn Pook
Rehearsal Directors Jose Agudo and Lewis Major
CUT – choreographed by Russell Maliphant
Lighting by Michael Hulls
Music by Andy Cowton
Rehearsal Director Lewis Major
Constellation – choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Lighting by Willy Cessa
Music by Olga Wojciechowska
Rehearsal Directors Paul Zivkovich and Lewis Major
