lodhi road, new delhi, india
http://www.indiahabitat.org/

february 18 - 20
carnival of eCreativity
sattal estate, bhimtal, lower kumaon hills, uttarkhand, india
http://carnival-of-ecreativity.com/



XOver DiaLogs in MusicDance brings together

Shilpika Bordoloi (Assam/India) and Olive Lopez (Switzerland), dance
Friedrich Glorian (Germany) guzheng, IT-strument, live electronics
Sheela Raj (India/France/UK) choreographic input. artistic direction and coaching

Friedrich explores acoustic/electronic aesthetics in live improvisation performing on the traditional chinese string instrument guzheng, the experimental IT-strument and live electronics. His intuition scans the dancers movements and spins sonic nets:
elements from the indian tradition, from urban and contemporary music transform into intricate sound textures, sonic dialogues and spontaneous improvisation with the dancers.

Shilpika and Olive, from very different cultural backgrounds and with a diverse movement vocabulary, enter into a non verbal dialogue where a deep, intuitive energetic exchange leads to the point of fusion and two bodies move as one.

Dancing together as a metaphor of a journey, the "yatra", a journey in space/time. The journey is also a process of personal growth and creation in every sense of the term, where one culture enriches the other, widening personal horizons, bringing tolerance and sharing a new vision of love and hope for humanity.


"Coming full circle... I grew up in Delhi many moons ago and left as a teenager to pursue a dream, of modern dance. London/New York/Paris: 'been there done that': dancing with London Contemporary Dance Theater, Twyla Tharp and Dancers, Merce Cunningham, my own company 'Le Cercle', based in Paris, then solo work and much research. Theater with Peter Brook, Bob Wilson. East West center 'Chakra', in the South of France. Return to roots: Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Pandit Durga Lal, Pandit Vinaya Chandra Maudgalya, R. Fahimuddin Dagar: multiple blessings, and then Yoga, the 'glue' binding all together.

This Yatra, a long cherished dream sharing the many blessings with young artists in India. Olive and Shilpika are like the twin souls of my identity, my mixed blood east/west. Friedrich, a catalyst for creative empowerment and trust.

Many thanks to the three of you, and to my family, brother, sisters and their spouses, and to my son for all the support and TLC.

We dedicate this performance to the memory of Merce Cunningham, my mentor and long time friend, and to his all time collaborator John Cage who would have turned 100 this year, and to the magic of 'Chance'. (we know you will both be smiling wherever you are)."

Sheela Raj


photo © nik stölzel 2010
digital artwork by friedrch glorian 2011