Pehchaan: Exploring Art and Identity through Bharatanatyam
A deep dive into the dancer's self, where the artist ends and the character begins.
The core question of 'Pehchaan' is one of identity, similar to the paradox of Theseus's ship. This promo video uses layered visuals to explore how we change yet remain ourselves.
This video explains the concept of 'Surrender' in 'Pehchaan'. It discusses the journey of molding myself into the image of a perfect dancer and the subsequent quest to find my own unique voice within the art form.
Exploring the idea of 'Displacement' in 'Pehchaan'. As an artist, I often feel a split between my modern self and the timeless world of the 'Nayika' I inhabit on stage. This performance grapples with that duality.
A promo for 'Pehchaan' touching on 'Acceptance'. Years of practice have taught me that while I can never be a perfect dancer, I can bring my own unique voice to the art, and that is my strength.
This video explores 'Becoming', the transformative process of 'aharya' or getting ready for a performance. It questions how much of ourselves we give up to step into the character of the dancer.
A clip from the 'Pehchaan' performance, set to original Hindi poetry. This piece explores how our actions define us in this mortal life, bridging the gap between the dancer and the artist.
Introducing the incredible team of musicians and technicians who helped bring 'Pehchaan' to life for its premiere at the Bangalore International Centre.
About this collection
This piece is not a standard recital. It is a thematic exploration of the duality between the person I am and the character I portray. If you are looking for a performance that invites your audience to think about the nature of identity while enjoying classical dance, this is a starting point for our conversation.
Pehchaan, which translates to identity, is a production I developed to answer a personal question. How do I reconcile my modern self with the timeless Nayika I embody in Bharatanatyam?
The performance moves through four stages: Surrender, where I conform to the expectations of the art form; Displacement, where the split between person and performer creates tension; Acceptance, where I find my unique voice; and Becoming, which is the physical transformation through aharya.
I have performed this piece at venues like the Bangalore International Centre, accompanied by a full live orchestra or adapted with high-fidelity recorded tracks. For your event, this can be scaled. We can keep it intimate with a solo performance or build it out into a larger narrative. Because this is grounded in research and original poetry, it works well for literary festivals, academic institutions, or cultural events where the audience wants more than just entertainment. Let’s talk about how to adapt the themes for your space.
Tanya Saxena
I treat every performance as a conversation rather than a set of steps. Whether we are exploring themes like identity or the climate crisis, my goal is to make the audience think as much as they feel.
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