Hey Glow Gang!
I missed you! Life has been lifing and I took a short break from publishing on Glowreel.
Easing back into the swing of things now. Starting with a special edition newsletter feat. details of our upcoming meetup in Melbourne, and an interview of the founders of TOUCH: where Ballet meets Bharathanatyam 🤝 You get the full scoop before TOUCH premieres at the Melbourne Fringe Festival next month.
Let's get glowing
-Shilpa
P.S. Heads up that I’ll be in your inbox next week with a handful of questions to help you get the best experience out of Glowreel.
Melbourne Meet Up
We're hosting a casual meet up at Scoopy Melbourne Central (303 La Trobe Street) on Sunday 8 October, at 12.30pm.
Coffees will be $3, and your first one is on us! Bingsu will also be available to order if you're after a sweet treat.
The event is free but we have limited seats:
Glowreel Recos
What we’re loving this week:
Make - This chaat-cuterie board by Kamana Bhaskaran. Did someone say girl dinner? 👀
Watch - Crazy Rich Asians. An oldie but a goodie and the perfect addition to girl dinner night! 💁🏽♀️
Listen - Life With Marianna. Summer Fridays co-founder Marianna Hewitt shares tips on how to lead a thriving life from some of the most successful founders and public personalities. It’s an insightful and easy listen. 🎧️
Trailblazing Woman Interview
TOUCH: Ballet Meets Bharathanatyam 🤝
Glowreel is proud to be highlighting TOUCH. The dance show is premiering at the Melbourne Fringe Festival (hosted by Dance House) on October 4 - 7 2023.
Created by Deepa Mani and Sheena Chundee, TOUCH demonstrates the power of merging cultures and the beauty and peace that can be achieved through respect, regardless of race or ethnicity.
We caught up with Deepa, acclaimed Bharathanatyam performer and teacher and founder of Chandralaya School of Dance, to hear more about TOUCH.
Deepa! When and where did you and Sheena meet and how did you come up with the idea for TOUCH?
In 2018, I discovered Sheena in an interview featured in Frankie magazine and found myself drawn to the narrative of a British-born South Asian ballerina (Sheena). This led me to contemplate the possibilities of uniting Indian classical art, specifically Bharathanatyam, with the world of Ballet. We discovered numerous similarities and differences between these two distinct art forms, sparking our exploration.
This project began taking shape around 2020, and the challenges posed by the lockdown made it quite challenging to bring it to fruition. However, 2022 marked a turning point when we made the decision to showcase excerpts of our work at the ECP program hosted by Dance House. It was only when our crowdfunding efforts gained momentum that we were able to bring other artists, including dancers and musicians, on board to enter the development phase.
Can you share more about what TOUCH is?
The TOUCH piece is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking exploration of the experiences and challenges faced by two South Asian women within the realms of Bharathanatyam and Ballet. This creative work delves into the complexities of acceptance and bias, offering a unique perspective on how these two distinct art forms intersect with their cultural backgrounds and personal journeys.
The juxtaposition of Bharathanatyam and Ballet likely serves as a powerful metaphor for the intersection of tradition and modernity, culture and assimilation, and the impact of biases that may shape their experiences within these artistic disciplines. The emotions surrounding this piece are likely to be rich and multi-layered, as it tackles issues of identity, representation, and the struggle for recognition and authenticity.
The collective is a collaboration between Sheena and me as choreographers, featuring a talented woman of colour who excels in ballet as our lead Ballet performer alongside myself performing Bharathanatyam. We are accompanied by a group of exceptionally talented South Asian musicians from Melbourne, including Bhairavi Raman on violin, Nanthesh Sivarajah on Mridangam (percussion), and Rohan Dasika on Double Bass. This piece undoubtedly amplifies the potential of uniting two distinct art forms and the narrative will unveil the resilience required to confront bias, the empowerment that comes from owning their unique perspectives, and the power of artistic expression to bridge cultural gaps and transcend societal barriers.
What do you hope to achieve through your show?
Through TOUCH, we aspire to accomplish several meaningful objectives:
- Cultural Exchange: We aim to showcase the harmonious blend of Bharathanatyam and Ballet, highlighting the beauty of cultural fusion and bridging the gap between these two distinct dance forms.
- Artistic Exploration: Our performance serves as a platform for artistic exploration, encouraging both dancers and audiences to delve into new dimensions of creativity and expression.
- Storytelling: We hope to tell a compelling narrative that resonates with audiences, addressing themes and issues that are both relevant and thought-provoking.
- Inspiration: Our show aims to inspire other artists to break boundaries, challenge conventions, and experiment with innovative collaborations that enrich the world of art.
- Community Building and Empowerment: Our performance fosters a sense of community, bringing together people from various backgrounds to celebrate the power of dance and music.
Ultimately, our show is a celebration of the arts, diversity, and collaboration. We hope it leaves a lasting impact by inspiring creativity, fostering cultural appreciation, and encouraging artistic exploration.
How do your respective dance specialties empower you to blaze your own trail?
Sheena, with her background in Ballet, brings a grace and precision to her movements that are both captivating and technically brilliant. This empowers her to challenge traditional notions of what ballet can be and to explore new horizons within this classical form.
As a Bharathanatyam dancer, I have a rich cultural heritage that informs my movements and storytelling. This empowers me to bring the depth of Indian classical dance to diverse audiences and to bridge the gap between tradition and contemporary expression.
Together, our diverse backgrounds create a synergy that allows us to innovate, blend, and experiment. We're not confined by a single tradition or style, and this freedom empowers us to blaze a trail that's uniquely our own, pushing the boundaries of what dance can be and inspiring others to do the same.
Reserve Your Tickets For TOUCH!
Lioness Thoughts
