Dance: East meets West

The Rite of Spring
choreographer Seeta Patel
music Igor Stravinsky
performers Kamala Devam, Sarveshan Gangen, Sarah Gasser, Aishani Ghosh, Kieran Heralall, Nidhaga Karunad, Kishore Kuman Krishnan, Indu Bhageloe Panday, Seeta Patel, Shree Savani, Adhya Shastry, Moritz Zavan Stoeckle, Sooraj Subramaniam
musicians Samyukta Ranganathan, Prathap Ramachandran, Vijay Venkat, Roopa Mahadevan and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, conductor Kirill Karabits
sets Rachana Jadhav
costumes Sandhya Raman, Anshu and Jason
lighting Warren Letton
Sadler's Wells, London • 13-14.Mar.23

Dancer-choreographer Seeta Patel merges traditional South Indian dance with Western classical music in this astonishing two-part show. Traditional bharatanatyam dance involves creating delicate shapes with hands and feet along with lively facial expressions to convey both narrative and emotional depth. And shifting the philosophical perspective to the East brings both fresh resonances and a riveting sense of earthy connection.

The show opens with Shree, in which Patel appears on-stage by herself, accompanied by projections from which she is born as Mother Nature then progresses through the seasons accompanied by voice (Ranganathan), percussion (Ramachandran) and flute (Venkat), eventually approaching her inevitable wintry death. It's a fascinating introduction to the wholistic approach of bharatanatyam, telling a story through eloquent, full-bodied physicality that's seamlessly integrated with the music.

While Shree may feel perplexing to a Western audience, it forms an astonishing foundation for The Rite of Spring, with the full Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra performing Stravinsky's music along with 12 seriously agile dancers in costumes that blur gender lines. Vivid lighting provides striking atmospherics on the plain stage, as the performers swirl and spin around each other. From sequences in unison, dancers single themselves out until it becomes clear that one has been chosen as their leader, leading to a series of consequential interactions. There's a fluidity to the performance that's hypnotic, using patterns, shapes and colours to connect with the audience on a visceral level. 

Split into two segments with an undulating interlude, The Rite of Spring explores the connections between humanity and nature, shifting through moments that are playful, powerful, sexy and yearning. The dancers and musicians seem like they're almost supernaturally connected to each other. And an profound sense of purpose emerges as the chosen one rises to the demands of his position. Which makes the show a subtle, provocative reminder of the responsibilities we have simply because we are living beings.

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photos by Foteini Christofilopoulou • 13.Mar.23