Alchemy 2016: ‘Across, Not Over’ – Kathak’s changing forms

June 6 2016

Based on a two thousand-year-old plus traditional Indian dance, contemporary performers are imagining new and exciting possibilities…

By Suman Bhuchar

VIKRAM IYENGAR is a part of a new group of contemporary Kathak dancer/choreographers working in India today.

He is among a select group who are changing the traditional stories of that dance form through their own performance and practice.

The stage was the exterior of the Pavilion with the floor covered in sand and a square area coloured blue which looks like a sea with a pair of plimsolls placed on it. The audience are separated by the glass window and sit on the other side, as though watching a film.

I assume that this piece is perhaps an allusion to the Syrian refuge crisis.

Iyengar emerges on stage with his bare back to the audience. He is clad in jeans held together by a yellow belt.

The soundscape is composed of three sound effects overlaid together.

The first gives him instructions to move a part of his body. This is followed by the sound of footsteps, as if walking on pebbles on a rocky beach (though I learn later this sound effect has been created by crushed leaves) and a small snippet of a traditional love song.

It’s a non-narrative piece which can be interpreted in any number of ways, and for the artist, it appears to be an exploration of the body, through his craft. The piece is divided into three segments.

In the second, he’s on his all fours with his hands in his plimsolls and uses them to make movements that would be made by Kathak steps.

Lastly, he undergoes a transformation and performs what could be considered to be a traditional Kathak solo recital appearing as the Blue God, (as in traditional Hindu iconography, Lord Krishna).

The text over this is part of a talk he gave about the role of Kathak in India and perhaps it is a preoccupation for the dancer himself.

The audience can hear the question being asked, “why did you learn classical dance?” and the replies are: “It was the done thing, it was beautiful and it’s in the family.”

Iyengar is a hypnotic performer to watch and his performance certainly questions the role of Kathak in contemporary India, where the key point of performance seems to focus on the technique and virtuosity of the artist.

There was a post-show brief question and answer session with him and Athreya. It wasn’t a large gathering but there were some big hitters from the South Asian performing arts community.

This means the artist has built a considerable following and is being eagerly watched.

Among those present were include the dance critics, Sanjoy Roy and Dr  Sunil Kothari; performer, Alaknanda Samarth; dancer/choreographer, Shobana Jeyasingh; dancer, Sanjukta Sinha; Mira Kaushik, director of Akademi and Vibha Mehdiretta, Deputy Director of the Nehru Centre.

www.asianculturevulture.com enjoyed watching and listening to the artist. This conceptual piece exploring movement was absorbing. We’d like to see more of his work.

Acv rating: **** (out of five)

Vikram Iyengar performed ‘Across, Not Over’ a part of Alchemy 2016 on Sunday, May 29