Contemporary Dance: BHU | EARTH

Date/Time
Date(s) - 13/05/2018
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Location
M L Bhartia Auditorium, Alliance Francaise de Delhi

Categories


 

A TRIBUTE TO MOTHER EARTH

Concept Note:
India has a deep and ancient tradition of connecting with the Bhuthas (Five Elements): earth, water, fire, air and ether. The Bhuthas are universal. Through connecting with them, humans can reconnect with the origin and cradle of consciousness that is the source of all matter. In this show we invoke the spirit of the BHU element (earth). The Kalari warrior carries, in his body, the memory of the earth. Through this process, we are able to reconnect to the pure origin that keeps him in motion with the heartbeat of the earth. We create a dialogue between the earth and the body of the performers, music and the audience.

Story:
‘It wails; it shouts in his body. Something is suffocating… His skin bag feels too tight. Something is missing. Some anger and violence are inside him. As far as he can remember, he always loved to fight… That’s why when he meets the Kalaripayattu master, he thinks he will learn from him the secrets to become a great fighter. But in fact, the latter teaches him how to fight his demons, his fears, his ego. The master teaches him how to dance with the elements, earth, water, fire, air and ether as well as with the wild beasts. But will he let “his body become all eyes,” always in a state of alertness, one with Nature, one with Shakti — the deep feminine energy that makes everything move?
This is the journey of a man who discovers his deep union with Mother Earth (Bhu). Beyond a story, this show invites the audience to an itinerary, accessible to everyone. A universal experience.

Process:
• Bhu offers an interactive performance combining theatre, dance, traditional and contemporary music and Kalaripayattu.
• The process is led by Philippe Pelen Baldini and Thierry Moucazambo, and guided by master of Kalaripayattu: Sri Guru Lakshman Gurukkal.
• This show questions the body memory of the dancer, one with earth and Nature. It is an experimental play that uses both modern theatrical, choeroegraphic tools and the traditional form of kalaripayattu to create an organic dance, a contemporary show. Connected to the Shakti (primordial or feminine energy) within the body of the warrior dancer, this artistic process develops traditional Kalari movement in a contemporary way.
• The performers are Kalaripayattu warriors / dancers/ healers / masters in energy. With them we experience origin of movement and theatrical act. We are looking for this experience of body “becoming all eyes” as they are used to say in Kalaripayattu wisdom. This happens when all the body is fully connected with his environment and nature.

Kalaripayattu:
Kalaripayattu is the world’s most ancient martial art, and is dedicated to the five elements.
It is the origin of many forms of theatre, dance and martial art in Asia, such as Kathakali, Koodiattam, Kung Fu and many more.
The earliest Masters of Kalari were inspired by nature and took their forms from eight different animals: The Elephant, Horse, Lion, Wild Boar, Snake, Cat, Cock and Fish. These postures evolved into styles of combat and contemplation. For the creation of the artistic form of Bhu, Kalaripayattu is explored in its artistic form: ‘Lasya Tatva’.

The Kalaripayattu masters are warriors as well as healers. The practice of Kalaripayattu involves intensive training in combat as well as healing techniques, using the energising potential of human touch.