DANCE BRIDGES FESTIVAL 2024
Dance Bridges Festival is an international dance biennial celebrating a diverse range of contemporary dance that is artistically innovative, thought-provoking and relevant. The Festival is run by Dance Bridges, a non-profit organisation with a core value for excellence and believing in the power of community built through artistic exchanges and discursive dialogues. The Festival supports year round activities in addition to the main festival and is curated by a programming committee based in London, Taipei and Kolkata.
The Festival was founded in August 2014, and has taken place in the month of August since its origin in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022. Over these past 4 editions Dance Bridges has presented performances, residencies, workshops, artist talks and film screenings collaborating with more than 70 independent artists and dance companies from over 30 countries as well as engaging with 25,000+ audience members and participants.
The 5th edition of the Festival will be held in Kolkata from August 1st-5th, 2024. We look forward to welcoming you in the City of Joy this summer.
ARTISTS’ PREVIEW
LOST IN OSCILLATION| SURENDRA TEKALE (Bangalore, India)
“Lost in Oscillation” is an audacious and compelling contemporary dance piece
that delves into the enigmatic realm of self-doubt. It offers a mesmerizing
exploration of the contradictory nature of doubt, weaving together elements of
absurdity, abstraction, and allure. The performance challenges conventional
notions of identity, perception, and the human psyche through intricate
choreography, evocative visuals, and soundscape.
Direction, Performance & Choreography: Surendra Tekale
Creative Input: Chetan Yeragera
Assistant Choreography: Gloria Bee
Dramaturgy: Kalyani Sarada
STUTTER| SABITA SHAW (Kolkata, India)
Expression helps to convey one’s thoughts but what if you are not given a chance to do so.
What if people make faces when you speak? What when you are not heard and avoided?
What when you are scared to talk and express yourself?
Your voice becomes a reason for people’s laughter.
People think I am disabled ?
Bullied, Teased – I used to hold back my words..
A A A …. K K K… Ma Ma Ma…..
And I turned back and walked.
This is how I Talked.
20 Years fighting to break the ice and overcome – to gain confidence to stand… I am proud to
say I am halfway through.
Performance & Choreography: Sabita Shaw
POSIEDONIES| EVIE DEMETRIOU (Cyprus)
“Posidonies” is a dance film conceived by dance maker Evie Demetriou and underwater lover
Antis Iakovou. Posidonies is borrowed from the Greek translation of the word Posidonia
(plural).
Through a poetic lense and inspired by the notion that pocedonia oceanica is the lung of the
mediterannean sea, the film uncovers two parallel stories in which the one affects the
other.
Credits:
Direction: Antis Iakovou, Evie Demetriou
Concept/ Cinematography: Antis Iakovou
Choreogrpahy/ Performance: Evie Demetriou