Thought-provoking dance
As dry as it is, number seven has always been a fascination throughout civilization,” says Umeshi Rajeendra, explaining the theme of her latest show presented in collaboration with the University of Visual and Performing Arts. Artistic director and founder of the Mesh Academy of Dance, Umeshi will be bringing together students from her academy and the University of Visual and Performing Arts for ‘Seven: the seeker, the thinker’ on November 10,11 and 12.
Umeshi: Pushing herself as an artiste and choreographer
Having a degree in dance choreography from the University of Denison in USA, Umeshi has an almost academic approach to her creation process, exploring the methodology of dance and intensely researching on her theme. “I’m pushing myself as an artiste and choreographer,” she says, noting that some works take as long as a year to develop.
So why seven? Umeshi tells us how during her time as a senior resident choreographer at the American Dance Festival in 2016, she was discussing numbers and their significance, when it struck her just how much society was fixated on number seven. “From the seven days of creation to the seven openings in the human head, seven has played a significant role in many fields,” she explains. From thereon she decided to explore the concept and its significance through movement.
It’s perhaps fitting that she explores this very abstract theme through the genre of contemporary dance. This dance form which evolved from ballet, modern and post-modern dance, uses technical but versatile fluid dance movements, unbridled by structured form and movement. It’s a genre of dance that has been associated with a philosophy and exploration of different natural energies and emotions. “It’s one of the most pluralistic and inclusive forms of dance,” says Umeshi, remarking that elements of African diaspora dance are incorporated as well. According to her the movements require both technique as well as athleticism, and though difficult to master, are wonderful to teach as it can be ‘very anatomical’. “It’s a state of mind. It’s about kinesthetics and meaning-making,” she adds.
Her process is filled with constant experimentation and improvisation by both herself and her dancers. Umeshi gives each dancer a scenario to visualize, such as being subjected to heat and fire, and requests them to channel their reactions into dance. Drawing from these displays, as well as from her own experimentation and research, Umeshi then creates the choreographed items around narrative or theme. Constantly fine-tuning and altering, she tell us that there is no real finality in the process. Explaining that there is no requirement to finish a ‘story’ as such, she stops when she feels that an item has reached a point where it should be presented and experienced.
Working with two groups of people from diverse backgrounds has not been without its challenges. At the start of this year, she began working with students of the University of Visual and Performing Arts, having approached the University to share some of her expertise and grow. She explains that she mixed the university students with those students following the pre-professional course at her academy so they could learn from each other.
Growing up watching and performing ballet, jazz and hip hop, Umeshi wanted to actively experience it, and now wants to give her audiences the same feeling. “I want people to leave the auditorium feeling like they were involved in the performance – not directly participating but by feeling an experience, questioning and creating their own understanding,” she says, admitting that she hopes that it will be a forum for thought. The hope is also to show other artists and teachers the effectiveness of engaging in new art forms and cross-disciplinary collaboration for the development of themselves and their students.
Collaborating with Umeshi for the show is young composer Natasha Senanayake, who has composed original music to accompany the dances.
‘Seven: the seeker, the thinker’ will take place on November 10, 11, and 12 at the University of Visual and Performing Arts Auditorium, No. 21 Albert Crescent, Colombo 7 at 7.30 p.m., with an additional performance at 2.30 p.m. on November 11. Tickets priced at Rs. 1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500, can be purchased online at www.daraz.lk or from their head office located at No. 51 Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7.