A clever and inquiring representation of the inherent conflicts and complex negotiations between two dancers from Malaysia, Imran Syafiq bin Mohd Affandi and Kimberly Yap Choy Hoong, this presentation was a fascinating conversation across the borders of Bharatnatyam. Their (UN)Paralleled Ragas (picture) was a part of Sapphire Creations Dance Company’s recently held festival, Interface. The performance was a rich, nuanced and oftentimes humorous exploration of the ideas of ethnicity, bodies and their possibilities and limits, the torments inherent to the diktats of a classical form, traditional belief systems and their relevance to modern individuals, relationships and personal choices.
Their parley was thoughtful and stimulating. The sumptuous movement designs, peppy music and lively text saw them find their feet in a quirky, contemporary dance-world of their own with subtle nods to Bharatnatyam. There is also a classical grace in their restraint, which comes from their training and offers an entry point into their world as much as their text does.
Sapphire’s own production, Rasasutra, was also presented at the festival. Its concept note says that it attempts to bridge gaps and explore spaces between tradition and modernity while converting the body’s endless energy into the aesthetics of dance. It takes a close look at the Natyashastra through the contemporary language of improvisation and image-making. The work, however, often tends to lose its context — returning to it via Anindya Hajra’s text — and becomes an excuse for pretty dancing.
The skilled dancers of Sapphire were just plain delighted to be gliding, flying, leaping and skidding across the floor to Hybrid Protokol’s live electronica music. Dinesh Poddar’s inspired light design added to the opulent look of the production. Created by Sudarshan Chakravorty, with help from the choreographers, Ronita Mookerji, Parth Bhardwaj and Pinky Mondol, Rasasutra is a visually rich work in which the performers, Ankita Duttagupta, Sylvester Mardi, Bijoy Sharma, Promita Karfa, Sumitava Saha, Pallavi Saha, Anup Sikdar, Rathin Das and Naresh Gupta, dance with abandon.
