Collaborative and Experimental Bharatanatyam Works
Art is 'Shwasa Vishwasa' (life breath) for me. This gallery captures my collaborative projects where classical Bharatanatyam tradition meets contemporary movement, psychology, and fresh narratives.
The poster for "Tatsama Tadbhava," a collaboration with Karthik Tantri. This production explores the archetypes of human personality, blending the classical and contemporary to find a new language of expression.
The full cast of "Tatsama Tadbhava," a production that brought together dancers from my Chithkala School of Dance and the Abstratics company. This image captures the spirit of our collaboration.
A powerful stage image from "Tatsama Tadbhava." The stark lighting and minimalist costumes focus attention on the raw emotion and physical storytelling of the piece.
A collage from "Tatsama Tadbhava," showing the contrast between the contemporary movement of the ensemble and the classical forms of the lead dancers. This juxtaposition is at the heart of the production.
An explosive moment of contemporary movement from "Tatsama Tadbhava." This production allowed us to explore different physical vocabularies and push the boundaries of traditional performance.
A scene from "Tatsama Tadbhava" where a masked contemporary dancer interacts with classically trained performers. The masks represent the "Persona" archetype we explored in the piece.
A masked self-portrait from "Tatsama Tadbhava." The mask is a powerful symbol in this production, representing the different faces we show to the world versus our true selves.
About this collection
My production 'Tatsama Tadbhava' was a deliberate attempt to look beyond the surface of performance. Collaborating with Abstratics allowed us to map Jungian archetypes like the Shadow, Anima, Persona, and Self onto the stage using a mix of classical Bharatanatyam precision and contemporary movement. It is not just a dance; it is a psychological inquiry, and it requires a specific technical setup to ensure that the lighting and interaction between classical and modern dancers land with the right impact.
When I step outside the traditional repertoire, it is always to find a new way to tell a story that feels relevant. 'Tatsama Tadbhava' was born from a desire to bridge the gap between two distinct dance vocabularies. Working with Karthik Tantri and the Abstratics company forced me to re-examine my own movement patterns. Bharatanatyam is deeply rooted in fixed geometry and codified language, while contemporary dance often explores the spaces between those forms.
We used masks and stark lighting to peel back the layers of the ego, exploring how we present ourselves to the world versus our internal reality. For event organizers or institutions looking at this type of work, it is important to understand that these productions require more than just a dance floor. They need a technical environment—specific lighting grids and sound design—that can support the dramatic shifts in mood.
If you are interested in collaborative or experimental dance, let us discuss how we can adapt these themes for your venue or event. Whether it is a thematic ensemble production or a cross-disciplinary performance, the goal remains the same: to create a space where the audience feels the heartbeat of the story, not just the technical skill of the dancers.
Praveen Kumar
I am Praveen Kumar. For me, dance is not just about staying within the lines of tradition but using them to paint new pictures. Whether I am exploring human psychology through movement or blending Bharatanatyam with contemporary forms, my focus is always on bringing an honest, human story to the stage.
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