Danse Dialogues – Stranger in Indian Paradise

Date/Time
Date(s) - 11/04/2014
7:30 pm

Location
Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, Lady Andal School

Categories

• Dance
• Events

Passes available at Alliance Française, nº24 College Road and at the venue on the evening of the show

In the framework of the cooperation between the state of Tamil Nadu in India and the Pays de la Loire Region in France, the choreographer David Rolland invites two choreographers living in Chennai, Preethi Athreya and Padmini Chettur, to work on a concept of an existing show: “L’Etranger au Paradis” (Stranger in Paradise), created in 2011. The work accomplished during the residency done in January 14 at the Alliance Française of Madras (with the support of the Prakriti Foundation) gave birth to choreographic show “L’Etranger au Paradis Indien” (Stranger in Indian Paradise). After touring in India during the Danse Dialogues Festival (April 2014), the choreographic show “L’Etranger au Paradis Indien” will be presented in France and Europe during the cultural season 2015/2016 with the same Franco-Indian cast.

“Stranger in Indian Paradise” invites 10 dancers (6 Indian and 4 from the Pays de la Loire) to perform very precise choreographics, getting acquainted with audioguided scores, after only a few hours of practice. It also invites the audience to enter a dance labyrinth of abstract figures. Each set starts out with a new visual, sound and choreographic design. The dancers set foot on 5 different cotton canvasses with intricate patterns, covering the stage, revealed one by one to the public. The sum of bodies soon gives life to the drawings by magic, creating a kaleidoscope in perpetual motion. Signs draw on the canvasses give indications to the dancers on how to move forward. The simplest movement, multiplied by the number, becomes outstanding. In this complex network, dancers look concentrated, each busy with its own task. Yet, what may be perceived as strict rules enables the audience to be absorbed by the beauty of each individual’s presence on stage.

Cast

Artistic director and choreographer: David Rolland (France) — Guest choreographers: Padmini Chettur (India) & Preethi Athreya (India) — Choreography assistant: Valeria Giuga (France) — Dance: V. Aarabi, Preethi Athreya, Madhusree Basu, Sébastien Chatellier, Padmini Chettur, Valeria Giuga, Vikram Iyengar, Anoushka Kurien, Morgan Orleach, Marc Têtedoie — Sound direction: Roland Ravard — Music design: Roland Ravard, Maarten Visser, Daniel Corral, Tony Bennet’s ‘A Stranger in Paradise’, 1953 — Lighting design: Sylvie Debare — Lighting direction: Jack Verdier — Stage direction: Pierre Peronnet — Carpet designer for Padmini Chettur : Sumanth Jayakrishnan

More information about David Rolland.

“Stranger in Indian Paradise” is the second of three performances organized for the 2014 Danse Dialogues Festival. Learn more about the two other events: “Les Lecteurs/The Readers” and “Cette Immense Intimité/This Huge Intimacy“.

Sponsors: Région Pays de la Loire – France (aide à la diffusion internationale), Institut Français en Inde, Alliance Française of Madras, Prakriti Foundation. Thanks to: Kamala Govindarajan, Bureau des Pays de la Loire in Chennai and Padmini Chettur Dance Company.

(Stranger in Indian Paradise © Valeria Giuga)