This year, the theme at the 15th Natya Darshan Conference, taking place in Chennai, is Jvaala Vyapnoti Aakaasam (the rising light fills space). Artistes will premiere dance choreographies incorporating this line. Mumbai will be represented at this prestigious conference by Bharatanatyam dancer Vaibhav Arekar who will perform his interpretation as well. "I wrote one-word ideas that could be developed. A few words such as awakening stuck with me for some reason. Initially, I had four stories with four different characters but conceptually, it was becoming too superficial. Hence, I selected only one character Sant Naamdev — and the awakenings in his life. Naamdev is one of the foremost saints from the Vaarkari Sampradaya of Maharashtra who popularised the Bhagwat dharma in the 12th century," shares Arekar.

Vaibhav Arekar