Platform 22 (Day 2)

Abducted (40 mins) by Raadha Kalpa Dance Company

Abduction is inspired by stories of abduction and retribution in India and around the world. The image of a submissive, helpless woman is repeated through history, across cultures. It is an image that is used to sell commercial merchandise repeatedly. The representation of a physically strong woman in films and comics is largely attached to the physical objectification of women. Can we represent strength and power in a female body without it also carrying sexual appeal? An archetype of a powerful woman who is feared by all is represented in the Indian goddess Kali. Kali is embraced as a figurative female energy who holds within herself the ability to annihilate evil and rejuvenate life. She is sensual but does not cater to the male gaze as a sexual object. She is also not ‘pure’ in the sense of being devoid of sexual energy. At which point does the abuse of power bring out the Kali in us? Abduction sets to find out.

Hurriya (20 mins) by Itthā Dance Theatre It is about two women finding friendship in the midst of despair which eventually leads them to Hurriya i.e., liberty or freedom. This dance piece is inspired by the characters Mariam, Laila and Rasheed in Khaled Hosseini’s novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns. Mariam has only followed orders her entire life, at first from her mother and then, her husband, Rasheed. Laila grew up with a father who held an ambition of making her a professor - at a time when women weren’t even admitted into college. The two are brought together by Rasheed, a product of his society who strongly holds on to the view that ‘Men run the world and women give birth. A woman who can’t give birth is useless.’ Married to the same man, the story culminates when the two women come together to do something that enrages him and leads to his end. Hurriya explores emotions of hopelessness, rage, possession, trust, love, and freedom.

Black is the Colour (45 mins) by Devansh Gandhi & Co. The story of Black is the Colour started as a personal journey for Devansh in order to understand and connect with his experiences of sleep paralysis and insomnia. What causes sleep paralysis? Why does the mind feel trapped? What is the significance of black and why does the colour have negative connotations? The dance work attempts to find answers to these questions. The choreography of the piece is a constant play between the relationship of an individual with themselves as well as other movers. Creating the piece involved working with breath patterns, glitches, improvisations, playing with darkness and light to unveil unconscious impulses and fears triggered through the subconscious mind.