UNNATI

ABOUT

Being a dance artist requires much more than having strong technique and a rich repertoire to share. It calls for a wide range of skills and knowledge that, in the Indian classical dance sector, are often acquired only by working closely with senior artists. While learning on the ground is arguably effective, it is also a privilege reserved to only a few. In addition, the ever-evolving art world asks for artists to carve their own path and grow in unique and time-relevant ways.

This programme aims to fulfil the need to develop Indian classical dancers in a more wholesome way by providing a toolkit of tasks, ideas, approaches and professional ways of working. The fields that will be covered include dance wellbeing, pedagogy, choreography and performance, stage production as well as dance on camera and presenting dance in unusual settings (outdoors, outside the proscenium stage).

We want to empower young professionals and aspiring professional dancers by exposing them to the ways of thinking and working of key artists in the field.

WHAT

The full programme provides you with a comprehensive skillset in core fields of professional dance practice. This skillset will prepare you for and develop your teaching, performance, choreographic, production as well as self-management practice.

We offer 6 weekend workshops (5 hours each) and 4 enlightening talks (2 hours each).

Workshops require a more active participation. You will be learning some material, responding to tasks, improvising, or creating movement.

Enlightening Talks are lecture-seminars, where the guest artists provide and discuss inspiring examples of their practice, give tips and share subject-specific knowledge. Participants will have time to interact and ask questions.

Where appropriate, preparation material will be provided in advance.

WHO

The programme is designed for:

• young professional dance artists: those who have solid foundations in their art form and are currently developing their own artistic voice.

• aspiring professional dancers training in Indian classical dance: those who are undergoing serious training with the intention of becoming future dance artists

• artists from alternative routes, for instance trained in other dance forms, beyond classical dance, who would benefit from being exposed to Indian classical dance aesthetics and ways of working.

  If in doubt, please feel free to drop us an email (elenaodissi@gmail.com).

WHEN

Workshops: Saturday- Sunday

Timings: 10am-12.30pm GMT / 11am- 1.3opm BST / 12-2.30pm CET / 3.30pm-6pm IST / 6-8.30am EST

APRIL: 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, MAY: 8-9, 15-16, 23-24

Enlightening : Friday 3-5pm GMT / 4-6pm BST / 5-7pm CET / 8.30-10.30pm IST / 11-1pm EST

APRIL: 16-23, MAY 14-21.

WHERE

Online. Zoom Platform. Recordings of sessions will be available for for 2 months if you cannot attend Live.

Limited places available. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.

PROGRAMME

Workshop 1 (10-11 April) Sharmila Biswas: From Concept to Performance

Talk 1 (16 April) January Low: Empowering the Dancing Mother

Workshop 2: (17-18 April) January Low: Navarasa and Mindfulness

Talk 2 (23 April) Omari Carter, Motion Dance Collective: Re-Imagining South Asian Dance on Screen

Workshop 3 (24-25 April) Madhavi Mudghal: Exploring the nuances of music and rhythm for composition (Postponed to 29-30 May due to unforeseen circumstances)

Talk 3 (7 May) Gautam Bhattacharya: Setting the mood: Lighting Design for Indian Classical dance

Workshop 4 (8-9 May) Shashwati Garai Gosh: Paada-kriya: Playing with footwork

Talk 4 (14 May) Seema Chopra and Liliana Araujo, SADMSA: Developing physical and psychological resilience as dance artists

Workshop 5 (15-16 May) Rukmini Vijayakumar: Interpreting text and lyrics for choreography

Talk 5 (21 May) Rukmini Vijayakumar: Creating dance for camera (BONUS!!!!)

Workshop 6 (22-23 May) Rama Vaidyanathan: Creative tasks for choreographic development