(Daniel
Phoenix Singh)
I was
engrossed in the night’s entertainment and the pleasantly surprising
advancements made to old techniques and styles, through this stylistically
diverse company. (Review by Verne Rowin Munsamy)
JOMBA! in collaboration with the US
consulate were proud to sponsor the arrival of Washington-based
Dhakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company to Durban to the Elizabeth Sneddon
Theatre, to celebrate the 21st year of this dance experience. This migration of
dance to our shores is most fitting with the theme of this year's experience,
where we reminisce over imagined and imaginative communities.
In the spirit of creating a space where
critical arts and arts culture may be preserved, we welcome this dance company
that has transported India diaspora to America, and now to our theatres. The
company presented their reimagined version of Classical Bharata Natyum infused
with Modern Dance codes which is a true representation of these evolving bodies
of culture.
Dhakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance
Company was founded in 2003 and since its establishment had strived to take
dance out of the auditorium and into the schools and communities. This time
they travelled into our community of dance with five dance works that best
exemplify their artist goal of finding modern ways to represent classical
Bharata Natyum dance.
The first piece was titled Vasanth, choreographed by Daniel Phoenix
Singh. I marvelled in the poetic story of Lord Shiva and Parvathi and the
destruction that occurred when they were in meditation. The choreography was
versatile and explicit, making the dance drama easy to understand. I enjoyed
the multiple uses of the cannon effect and the distinctions drawn between hard
classical feet when compared to the lightness of the modern style. This dynamic
fusion made for exciting dance with pretty pictures and patterns. The flower
patterns were spectacular.
The second and forth pieces were
choreography by Vineeth and Rachel Prem respectively. These shorter pieces displayed
Bharata Natyum danced to the rhythms of contemporary sound tracks off movies.
The soloist was exquisite in her technique and expression. The two contemporary
dance pieces, ODE, choreography by
Singh and Lyric Suite (choreography
by Anna Sokolow and restaged by Lorry May) showcased the modern technique that
the company has become famous for (alongside Bharata Natyum).
The vibrant costumes and well thought-out
lighting plans matched well with some of the visual art that was projected onto
the cyclorama. I was engrossed in the night’s entertainment and the pleasantly
surprising advancements made to old techniques and styles, through this
stylistically diverse company. The night's performance was a model example of
the aims of this year's festival and this notion of evolution of cultures and
dance and of finding a community to belong to, one which interrogates changes
of culture through creative arts. Catch the rest of JOMBA! that's running at
The Sneddon Theatre and other venues.
JOMBA!
closes on Sunday (September 8, 2019). For more information go to http://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/
- Verne Rowin Munsamy
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