Artistes from New York's critically-acclaimed Battery Dance Company and Kolkata Sanved present a soul-stirring performance, "Dancing to Connect" organised by Ananta Aspen Centre and EmancipAction in solidarity with victims of sexual violence.
The performance featured mesmerising dances of healing and inspiration by a troupe of young girls, who have survived a myriad of hardships, including gender violence, human trafficking and homelessness.
This joint collaboration between BDC and dance therapists of Kolkata Sanved was part of BDC's renowned outreach programme, "Dancing to Connect", which has been conducted in over 40 countries over the world. The workshop aims at addressing issues of exclusion in society and women rights.
Donning colours of varies hues that reflected their sense of freedom and independence, the young dancers were trained by the BDC choreographers and Kolkata Sanved to present a piece that beautifully brought out the inner and outer lives of the protagonists. The changing colours of the background expressed the deepest emotions of every young girl, everywhere in the world.
On their first visit to India since 2006, the Battery Dance Company also presented a repertoire new to the Indian audience but celebrated elsewhere around the world. Set in contemporary style, the dancers displayed a unique blend of abstract themes in modern backgrounds. In addition, the inimitable Mallika Sarabhai performed her powerful solo work, "I Am Not That Woman" in the backdrop of a haunting melody set on the celebrated Urdu poet, Momin's ghazal, "Tumhe yaad ho ki na yaad ho" (Do you remember, or not?)
The Battery Dance Company was founded in 1976 by choreographer Jonathan Hollander, who is also the troupe's artistic director. Hollander has choreographed more than 75 works in major theatres and festivals in the U.S., Africa, Middle East, Asia and the Carribean.
