The dancer and the dance

Choreographer Ashley Lobo has started a contemporary dance repertory company, Navdhara India Dance Theatre, which is travelling to Delhi with its first production, Amaara

"Every country in the world is represented by an international contemporary dance theatre company. India has no such representation," says Ashley Lobo, choreographer and founder of the Danceworx Academy. Lobo, a pioneer of the international dance movement in the country, with a prolific career that includes international productions (West Side Story, Barre Theatre Co., Sydney) as well as Bollywood (Bombay Velvet, Rockstar) and stage (Jhumroo, Kingdom of Dreams) choreography, felt it was important that the country got represented in the global modern contemporary scene. Hence, 'Navdhara' ('new flow') was born, a repertory dance theatre company "to represent an emerging genre of dance in India."

With its first theatrical production, Amaara - A Journey of Love, having premiered in Mumbai on March 26, followed by three shows in the US (April 11-April 19), all having opened to favourable reviews, Lobo speaks about the company's genesis. "With the aim to put India on the global map in terms of dance theatre, the USP of Navdhara lies in its abstract format," he says. But what does dance theatre consist of - certainly it's more than just a blend of dance and dramatic elements? "Most dance performances in India are hugely scaled with multiple highlights, but international dance theatre symbolises minimalism." When asked about the story that Amaara is trying to tell, Lobo says there is no first person narrative or even tracking of a story. "It is like abstract art where the viewer makes his own observation out of the creation." "In Amaara, my inspiration is of an ancient time and the look and feel of it ultimately is to take the viewer into a shamanic space," says Lobo.

Towards that end, the producers hope to engage and interact with their audience. Lobo considers this production a big gamble because "the Indian audience is used to being wowed with tricks and theatrics". But his strategy certainly seems to be working for the international audience, after successful shows in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Navdhara has been invited to perform in Israel. Yair Vardi, the director of the Suzanne Dellal Center for Dance and Theatre in Tel Aviv, Israel, attended the premiere in Mumbai and was so impressed that he has invited Navdhara to perform in September. "Mysterious, vigorous, emotional and physical human connections - they all come together into a supreme expression in Amaara," he says.

Navdhara's artistic staff comprises of a classical ballet master (Yehuda Maor) and a contemporary expert (Yuko Harada). The dancers are trained 'Prana Paint & Flow', a unique sensitising approach developed by Lobo that explores movement through connectivity, yoga, breath and touch: "It is a technique I am still in the process of discovering, which helps a dancer get closer to her own personal expression. It is based on the principle of using the skin and sensation to ignite the flow of prana or energy which in turn creates movement and form."

Apart from this, the dancers regularly participate in workshops of Indian classical and folk, yoga, gymnastics, parkour, acting, et cetera. "The movement language used in Amaara is influenced by classical ballet, international contemporary, Indian classical and folk, and even Bollywood - but is mainly abstract and so almost unrecognisable," says Lobo. He plans to take the show to places like Pune, Goa, among other cities through the year.

Amaara - a Journey of Love, Kamani Auditorium, May 1, 7.30 pm. Tickets priced at Rs 500, 40 and 250 will be available at the venue. Contact 1244090135/37 for details