Festival Archives

‘Shakti’ by Ashley Lobo and Navdhara India Dance Theatre is an Indo-Japanese collaborative piece produced by Serendipity Arts and the Japan Foundation, New Delhi. 

This abstract dance theatre performance will feature 3 dancers from India and 2 independent dancers from Japan with music by Japanese artist Noriko Shakti. The organising theme of the project is an exploration of energy with a focus on the feminine.

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An idealistic dreamer sets out to revive the lost tradition of chivalry. Immortalising this unlikely knight errant and his befuddled squire Sancho Panza, Cervantes’ novel has inspired countless individual artworks and entire cultural movements around the world.

Curated by:
Geeta Chandran

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Commissioned by the Rural Touring Dance Initiative in association with Perth Theatre Developed with the support of Creative Scotland, Dancebase, The Place, Scottish School of Contemporary Dance, Dundee & Angus College, The Work Room, Made in Scotland Touring Fund.

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Lives of Clay is the story of three women: Parvati, Meena, and Vidya Thirunarayan.

Featuring exceptional dance, live ceramics, startling new text and original sound, Lives of Clay spins together narratives of ancient myth, harsh reality, and intimate truth. Performed on a spectacular set with the audience on three sides, it is accessible for all ages.

Curated by:
Quasar Thakore Padamsee

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Tholpavakoothu, a traditional temple art form prevalent in the Bhagavathy temples of Palakkad district and nearby regions in Kerala, narrates the timeless tale of Lord Rama’s divine incarnation from the epic Ramayana. Rooted in Hindu beliefs, it embodies the profound notion that when virtue and righteousness (dharma) wane, and evil (adharma) prevails, Lord Vishnu descends to restore harmony and right awareness.

Curated by:
Geeta Chandran

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Join Scottish Dance Theatre for a creative dance session for women and non-binary identifying participants inspired by the company’s acclaimed production Antigone, Interrupted. The session is open to participants of different ages, abilities and levels of dance experience (no professional experience required). All you need is a desire to connect with your body and get creative!

Facilitated by
Solène Weinachter and Katye Coe

There is a world of neither here nor there which is a transit waiting room. Corridors in hospitals where families await news of loved ones; lock-ups in police stations where the arrested await trials that will decide their fate; daily queues of unskilled workers where they await a job for a day; taxi drivers in a multi-level car park awaiting customers; souls in purgatory awaiting judgment and away out or onward…

Commissioned by:
Serendipity Arts Foundation for Serendipity Arts Festival 2023

A performance that unites two ancient traditions, like two birds meeting in a tree, entwining, and then taking flight, leaving us with an enchanted sense of duality in our lives. As the weaving of stories unfolds, Reality encounters the Imaginary, the Teller encounters the Tale, and the Dancer encounters the Dance, resulting in the dance of their stories.

Curated by:
Mayuri Upadhya

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This performance seeks to provide an insight into the life and teachings of the 13th century saint Janabai and the 14th century saint Lalleswari or Lalded as she was fondly called. Both were female mystic poets driven by their love for the supreme who went through tremendous hardships before they were finally recognised.

Curated by:
Mayuri Upadhya

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A recurring message of saint-poets across time is the reminder that enjoyment, pain, delight, struggle are all fleeting—this too shall pass. They remind us to savour the world, be fully present in it, while simultaneously remembering that nothing is permanent.

Curated by:
Mayuri Upadhya

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The damaru is a traditional percussion instrument that bears multifaceted religious and cultural underpinnings that have come to shape the creative pulse of this project. This performance will explore the profound symbolism of the instrument in Hindu mythology — illuminating spiritual notions around the unity of existence — and the interplay between creation and destruction, welding its chosen movement forms with the Tandava that Shiva performed to the beats of the damaru, precipitating in the creation of the sound of music.

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This performance will showcase a range of rituals and traditions from Manipur. These include the dances performed at Lai-Haraoba, an annual festival celebrated at the shrines of the old sylvan gods known as Laibungs; Dhol-Cholom, a drum dance essential to the festivities of Holi or Yaosang as it is called in Manipur; Pung-Cholom, a classical dance featuring complex rhythms, jumps, and aerial leaps, drawing upon the important ritual character of the pung, a cylindrical drum or Manipuri mridanga; and finally the eponymous Maha Raas, a particularly significant Raas Leela performed in Manipur, narrating the story of the disappearance of Lord Krishna and the Gopis’ eventual union with the Lord. 

Curated by
Geeta Chandran

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Pavakathakali, or glove puppet play, came into vogue and popularity in Kerala two centuries ago through the influence of the famous classical dance theatre, Kathakali. The word Pava means “puppet” and Kathakali means “story play”.  This artform is of particular significance because of its ability to present Kathakali, the classical dance-drama, through puppetry.

Curated by
Geeta Chandran

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Harikatha, a profound Indian storytelling tradition, merges the captivating elements of narrative, music, dance, and spirituality into a harmonious symphony that transcends time and touches the soul.

Curated by:
Mayuri Upadhya

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Seen now in about 30 countries around the world, Pixel is a roaring success and a mind-blowing mix of virtuoso hip-hop dance with cutting-edge digital projection. This production is a direct result of the creative dialog between choreographer Mourad Merzouki (Compagnie Käfig) and digital arts company Adrien M & Claire B.

Project by:
Compagnie Käfig

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Ascharyachoodamani, written by Sakthibhadra from Kerala, is a very important play as far as Koodiyattam actors are concerned. The Fifth Act of this play, Asokavanikankam, is particularly rich in terms of its scope for abhinaya. This Koodiyattam performance presents the Purappad or Entry of Ravana, the hero of this Act.

Curated by
Geeta Chandran

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From the time of the Vedas to the present, nature and all of her elements have always been integral to our existence. Watching, witnessing, observing. And sometimes, taking matters into their own hands to balance the scales. They can be childish and playful, or angry and vengeful. They can be expressive, leaving nothing to our imagination, or they can be tacit, trusting us to figure out the true meaning behind their voice.

Curated by:
Mayuri Upadhya

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A film by Hofesh Shechter & Theaterhaus Stuttgart In association with Hofesh Shechter Company Directed by Hofesh Shechter Edited by Todd MacDonald in collaboration with Hofesh Shechter Choreography, Music & Stage Design: Hofesh Shechter Additional Music: J. S. Bach Costumes: Hofesh Shechter & Gudrun Schretzmeier Camera: Rainhardt Albrecht-Herz & Hofesh Shechter Camera Assistant: Julian Walz Lighting: Tom Gork Musicians: James Adams, Christopher Allan, Rebekah Allan, Sabio Janiak, Desmond Neysmith Music Collaborators: Nell Catchpole & Yaron Engler Post-production: Colourist – Toby Tomkins, CHEAT

Curated by
Mayuri Upadhya

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Escaped war but couldn’t escape faith.

They were forced to leave their home in order to breathe.

Wandering around in an estranged land where they are hanging by a thread of hope.

Hoping to see a familiar face.

Hoping to not meet death without the last goodbye.

Hoping for someone to come to their rescue.

Curated by:
Mayuri Upadhya

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This performance showcases Pandavani, a lively folk ballad form performed predominantly in Chhattisgarh. It depicts the story of the Pandavas, the lead characters in the Mahabharata.

Curated by:
Geeta Chandran

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To understand the multicultural societies of the past, we can see the dancer’s body, persona and repertoire, as sites of negotiation with differences, sustained through the concept of cosmopolitanism. The people of Early Modern Deccan (15th – 19th centuries) regions, lived amidst novel and exquisite cultural habits that came from lands far off as well as from native communities.

Curated by
Geeta Chandran

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Prithvi Nayak presents an evening of selected pieces from the traditional Odissi repertoire, albeit with a twist. Each piece, reinterpreted by Guru Bijayini Satpathy, pushes the boundaries of conventional explorations of space, music and narrative. While remaining true to the ethos of the form, it is an attempt to show that what is ‘traditional’ can also be ‘contemporary’.

Curated by:
Mayuri Upadhya

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Paramdeep Singh is a well-known name and face in the world of dance reality TV. Known for his open style and expressive movements, Paramdeep has participated in many reality shows as assistant choreographer and contestant. This is the first time an arts festival in India will witness Paramdeep’s live performance!

Curated by
Mayuri Upadhya

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An idealistic dreamer sets out to revive the lost tradition of chivalry. Immortalising this unlikely knight errant and his befuddled squire Sancho Panza, Cervantes’ novel has inspired countless individual artworks and entire cultural movements around the world.

Curated by:
Geeta Chandran

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Swetha Warrier is the creator of the experimental dance form Street O’Classical, a fusion of Bharatanatyam and Street styles. She was the second runner up of India’s Best Dancer on Sony TV. She has previously taken part in many reality shows.

Curated by
Mayuri Upadhya

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Vitthala is a popular deity for the people of Central India. Pandharpur, Vitthala’s seat, became the focal point of the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra. Considered a manifestation of Vishnu, he is embraced and celebrated by all. The Varkari tradition rejoices in Vitthala in the most mundane way, allowing everyone access to him. Bhaktas speak to him, confide in him, demand of him, and shower him with praise. And he listens to everything they have to say. But what happens when Vitthala speaks…

Curated by:
Mayuri Upadhya

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Mehfil is a performance presentation format of Kathak in which the dancer dances their repertoire with hand gestures and facial expressions. At Serendipity Arts Festival, Rani Khanum will recreate the old-world charm and authentic flavour of a bygone Lucknow, through ghazals, thumri, bandish, sher o shayari, and more.

Curated by:
Mayuri Upadhya

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‘Footprints in Blood’ is a dance performance that draws upon three stories of fiery feminist uprisings in Manipur. The first story is about the 2nd Nupi Lan (Women’s War) that occurred in 1939. Fearless women from the agrarian community fought unarmed and laid down their lives to save their homes and harvest from the unfair export trade carried out by the British.

Curated by:
Mayuri Upadhya

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Dressed in long black lace skirts, brightly coloured hats, and extravagant sunglasses, the Ouinch Ouinch Collective, true wild-party-enthusiasts, take to the stage. They all act as “Ouinch”, medieval-fashion fairy witches who are mischievous, ridiculous, and seductive.

Supported by: Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, boxout.fm and The Embassy of Switzerland in India and Bhutan under the initiative “SwitzerlandIndia 75: Success Stories to Be Continued”

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