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 with extened events till 11th August. We look forward to welcoming you in the City of Joy this summer. Our international team has curated a programme of contemporary dance performances, films, workshops, residencies, jam sessions and artist talks with companies and artists representing 12 countries with the theme ‘Unfolding Narratives’. This includes a special focus on Indian artists who have been engaged with the Festival in the last decade as well as others to highlight the exceptional talent and growth in the nation. Our international artists present work ranging from Spain to Canada, Taiwan to Bulgaria, Italy to Vietnam, Martinique to China and beyond with a special full-length performance of DĒP by Van Huynh Company UK in collaboration with local artists.
Full Programme
Performances | Showcases & Artists’ Talk
Thursday 1 August
ICCR Kolkata Nandalal Gallery – 6.30-8PM
Performance – Opening Ceremony
Van Huynh Company & Dance Bridges Residency Artists | Dep| UK/India
Saturday 3 August
International Management Institute (IMI) – 6.30-9PM
Performance & Jam Session
Surendra Tekale| Lost in Oscillation | India
Esenco Dance Company | Lay Bare | Italy
Van Huynh Company & Dance Bridges Residency Artists | Dep| UK/India
A live music and dance improvisation session open to all after the performances featuring Devarshi Kar & Guests
Sunday 4 August
Jamini Roy Gallery – 2.30-3.30PM
Performances
Fenia Chatzakou & Csenger K Szabo | Still Love| Germany
Papia Chakraborty| Metamorphosis | India
Hsu Chen Wei Dance Company | Beauty & the Beast | Taiwan
Chaitown Community – 6.30-8PM
Performances & Showcases (Dance & Music)
Sabita Shaw| Stutter | India
Artur Vidal | Emphony | Spain/France
Chieh-Hua Jeff Hsieh | Dance & Technology Intervention | Taiwan
Junafar Juno |Alaikkadal |India
Monday 5 August
The Creative Arts Academy – 6:30-8PM
Performances, Showcases & Artists’ Talk
Sayan Debnath| A Glass of Water | India
Sabita Shaw| Stutter | India
Prasanna Saikia| Equipoise | India
Vanessa Mirza | La Femme et La Mer| UK/India
Thursday 8 August
The Alliance Française du Bengale – 6:30-8PM
Performance (Music) & Artist Talk
Artur Vidal | The personal and the neutral | Spain/France
Film Screening | Workshops
Friday 2 August
3-5PM The Creative Arts Academy (TCA)
Surendra Tekale | Kill the Breath, Kill the Rhythm Movement Workshop | India
6.30-8PM Alliance Française du Bengale
Film Screening & Artists’ Talk
Alexandre Hamel | Quarantine 6 of 6 | Canada
Annabel Guérédrat| I’m a Bruja | Martinique/France
Antis Iakovo & Evie Demetriou| Posiedonies| Cyprus
Kosta Karakashyan| A Real Boy | Bulgaria
Kosta Karakashyan| Waiting for Colour | Bulgaria
Michael Maurissens | KR Market |Germany/India
Michael Maurissens | Samsara |Germany/India
Rocio Chacon | Land. Water. Heaven. | UK/Vietnam
Surendra Tekale| Anno Domini | India
Ting-ying Ma| Obliteration | China
Saturday 3 August
2-4PM Chaitown Community
Fenia Chatzoukou & Csenger K. Szabo | Physical Alertness Movement Workshop | Germany
Sunday 4 August
11AM-12.30PM Bridging Arts & Culture Foundation
Esenco Dance Company | Anatomy of feelings Workshop | Italy
5-6.30PM Chaitown Community
Artur Vidal | Sonomateca Workshop |Spain/France
(Free workshop open to all)
Monday 5 August
3.30-5PM Pathshala Performing Arts Studio
Hsu Chen Wei Dance Company | Pro-class dance Workshop | Taiwan
Saturday 10 August
11AM-12.30PM Bridging Arts & Culture Foundation
Artur Vidal | Sonic meditations, Talk & Sound Walk | Spain/France
(Free workshop open to all)
Sunday 11 August
7PM-8.30PM The VLS Workshop
Artur Vidal | Sonomateca Workshop |Spain/France
(Free workshop open to all in collaboration with Buoyant Performing Arts)