I just got back from India in May, where I was mostly performing flamenco—which is hot there right now! I also collaborated with Kathak dancers and tabla players, was filmed in a documentary, and seconded into a photo shoot with Society magazine in full flamenco regalia!
One of my intentions for this second trip was to strengthen relationships with those people and companies I met last September following the successful tour of Game On (with Bobby Singh & Miranda Wheen) at Interface 2012 and increase the exposure of my work and of the company, Theatre of Rhythm and Dance.
Performing in India was exciting. Audiences are really responsive and I began a new collaboration with Ashavari Majumdar in Kolkata and new intercultural research in New Delhi. It was great to meet with many contemporary cultural artists like Anita Ratnam, Preethi Athreya just to get an overview of the intercultural landscape.
(l) Zorba the Buddha, New Delhi. Photo: Vijay Kate (r) World Day Dance Show, ICCR, Kolkata. Photo: Prashant AroraI also met with various consulates—Australian, Instituto Cervantes, Israeli, French and Canadian—who attended my performance in Delhi. It was great to get their views on support for possible touring and collaboration.
Last year’s tour was supported by Arts NSW and DFAT (Australia India Council), however this one was self-funded, an investment into my company and presentation platforms for my works.
At Bundanon working on Mother Tongue (March 2013) Photo: Chris VerheydenJust before I went to India in March, I had my third Creative Development of Mother Tongue at beautiful Bundanon Trust with eight fabulous dancers from Victoria and NSW. Giving cross-cultural dance workshops for contemporary dancers at Gati Studios in New Delhi was amazing to share the same concepts and for developing some new processes!