Dance : Anandam’s exploration of dance looks for communication with the body that seeks truths beyond the limitations of words. In our creative process we explore the vital energies of the body that link our inner worlds of existence with our outer worlds of experience. Our movement explorations draw from traditional dance forms such as Seraikella and Mayurbhanj Chhau as well as from the South Indian Martial art of Kalarippayattu, the meditative energy of Hatha Yoga and contemporary experimentations. In movement and in stillness we discover new layers and concepts of physical language that are visceral, delicate, pulsating, intricate and howling with life.
Theatre : Anandam creates new works and reinterprets classic and modern texts with a unique perspective of image-based theatre that is both interdisciplinary and multidimensional. Our theatre creations take life in a number of venues from traditional theatre buildings, to converted performance spaces, to the vast beauty of the natural world. Our theatre believes in exploring our diverse and shared human experience in a manner that is challenging and vital in order to create transformational experiences for both artists and audiences. Our theatre values the sacredness of performance, while bravely and boldly embracing modern ideas and observations.
Aerial : Exploring the performance space above the earth, aerial work allows us to find new dimensions in the performers’ body and new perspectives in the theatre space, opening new realms of possibility for contemporary creation. Anandam uses aerial techniques to further explore relationships to space and challenge both audiences and artists concepts of gravity, physicality and the theatre environment.
Chhau : Chhau is a martial based dance form from the eastern part of India. Predominantly performed by men, this dance form is truly one of the most unique, vigorous and physically demanding on the sub continent. Chhau has developed three distinct styles; Seraikella, Mayurbhanj and Purillia. The Seraikella style is heralded for its’ sensitive use of mask, abstract movements and poetic solos and duets. Mayurbhanj Chhau vibrantly retains its martial flavor featuring an extensive range of body movements, jumps and kicks. It does not use a mask, which frees the body for more extensive movement combinations and is known for large group choreographies. Lastly Purillia Chhau uses a larger mask and headdress and combines this with tribal dance drama to tell vigorously physical mythological stories.
Chhau flourished as a traditional dance in the early twentieth century as part of the Indian Dance Revival. From the 1970’s to the present day it has also provided a fertile ground for contemporary choreographers and theatre makers due to its’ diverse physical vocabulary.
Kalarippayattu : Kalarippayattu is a South Indian Martial art form from Kerala that is comprised of physical sequences and various weapons handling as well as meditative movement. It combines clear, straight lines with a serpent like approach to the spine and its’ movement. Much like Chhau, it is predominantly practiced by men and has provided a wealth of vocabulary for contemporary explorations in performance across the globe.
Puppetry : Animation of the inanimate creates breath, substance and character in puppets that come to life with a strange beauty in their not quite humanness. By interacting with them we lend puppets our humanity and they highlight our fragility. Puppetry is one of the world’s most ancient and powerful arts. Throughout history it has helped win revolutions, educate, protest governments, spread ideas, entertain and perform rituals. As one of history’s most varied art forms, puppetry straddles the ancient and modern with comfort. The art of puppetry is a noble traditional that continues to evolve powerfully in modern performance. Anandam participates in this evolution by producing theatre that integrates numerous forms of puppetry with live performers to create environments that play with layers of reality and explore new ways of seeing. |
