Tribe Verified· Premiered at The Place, London

Abandhana: Choreography Inspired by Ancient Buddhist Poetry

byDivya RaviAvailable in London, Berlin & major Indian citiesStarts from₹25,000 per itemView full gallery

A dance-theatre immersion into the Therigāthā—the 6th-century BCE songs of elder Buddhist nuns. I explore themes of freedom, constraint, and the human experience using Bharatanatyam.

Glimpses from the studio research and development for *Abandhana*, my work based on the Therīgāthā, songs of the elder Buddhist nuns. The piece is a multidisciplinary immersion into these 6th-century BCE feminist voices, blending dance, music, and theatre.

A moment from the premiere of *Abandhana* (Unfettered). This work-in-progress is a dance-theatre-musical immersion into the poetry of the Therīgāthā, the earliest known anthology of women's literature from the 6th century BCE.

A studio shot from the creation of *Abandhana*. The line "Why do you stand obstructing me?" from the Pāli poetry of the Therīgāthā was the initial spark for this entire production, exploring themes of freedom and constraint.

A powerful theatrical moment from *Abandhana*. The piece is a true collaboration, with musicians physically interacting on stage to represent the forces that both bind and liberate the central character.

A raw, emotional moment from a studio session for *Abandhana*. The work delves into the trauma, struggles, and choices of the Theri-s, or elder Buddhist Nuns, finding parallels in the lives of women today.

This photo captures the spirit of *Abandhana*. The work explores the poetry of 6th-century Buddhist women who navigated oppression and existential crises, with their experiences manifesting as powerful poetic outpourings.

The interplay between dancer and musician is central to *Abandhana*. Here, the cellist becomes a physical presence in the narrative, her music weaving through the story of the Buddhist nuns.

Another dynamic rehearsal shot for *Abandhana*. The movement vocabulary for this piece is drawn from Bharatanatyam but is shaped by the raw, powerful emotions of the Pāli poetry.

A posed shot with my collaborators for *Abandhana*. This dance-theatre piece is a true ensemble effort, bringing together vocals, percussion, and cello to create an immersive soundscape.

A quiet, intense moment from *Abandhana*. The piece explores the inner world of the Theri-s, their moments of doubt, and their journey towards enlightenment.

About Abandhana: Voices of Buddhist Nuns

My creative process for this production moves beyond traditional choreography by integrating live musical dialogue—specifically the cello, vocals, and percussion—directly into the narrative flow. When we develop these pieces, we spend significant time in the studio ensuring the movement vocabulary derived from the Therigāthā reflects the emotional weight of the Pāli text, rather than just adhering to standard rhythmic patterns.

Premiered at The Place, London — Approved by the tribe

Divya Ravi

Available in London, Berlin & major Indian citiesStarts from ₹25,000 per item

I see dance as a way to excavate forgotten voices. When I created Abandhana, I wanted to find out what these 6th-century Buddhist nuns were really feeling, and I found that their struggles with freedom and constraint aren't all that different from ours today.