This unique performance in Mumbai pays tribute to Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky with kathak moves

What is the colour of a childrsquos surprise Or the sound of hunger These could be questions from a threeyearold or the deep musings of a sozzled philosopher at a local pub Yet there are geniuses across the world who have experienced this phenomenon Nikola Tesla claimed that words inspired his visions Richard Feynmanrsquos equations emerged with colours Jimi Hendrix could see colours through chords This phenomenon of synaesthesia was a defining part of the works of early 20th century abstractionist painter Wassily KandinskyMouvement 1 1935ldquoHis Kandinsky art is unique in many ways one being that he was a synestheterdquo says Sugandh Lamba artistic director who is currently preparing for Lemme Dance You A Picture at Harkat Studios The show will seek to blend the visual abstraction of Kandinskyrsquos art with the physical movements of kathak The idea she reveals developed in 2023 when she held a performance for a school for special needs students ldquoI organised a small annual theatre production for special mdash needs students where one of the stories was on Kandinsky Thatrsquos where my research on the phenomenon truly began It sparked my curiosity to create something around art and dancerdquo Lamba saysA moment from the rehearsalBorn in Russia in the early 20th century Kandinsky emerged as one of the leading abstractionists of his age Trained in music his ability to see colours when hearing sound redefined his approach to art ldquoColour is the keyboard the eyes are the hammers the soul is the piano with its many chordsrdquo he famously declared This will be brought to the Harkat Studios stage by four performers mdash Lamba Ramya Palavajjhala Sneha Masurkar and Kriti Chordia Noting our confusion at the concept Lamba elaborates ldquoI cannot recreate Kandinskyrsquos experience of synaesthesia What we are looking to do is to see how we can project his art through our expressionsrdquoSugandh LambaThis concept is not new but it is not traditional either Modern dance performances have often sought to interpret visual arts Lamba puts it down to the nature of the dance form at display mdash kathak Having learnt kathak from the age of five Lamba remarks that the dance form is a direct contrast to Kandinskyrsquos ideals ldquoKathak dancers as is common in Indian classical dance focus on structures and form Each move is carefully tailored to expression Kandinsky meanwhile never believed in structures What I am trying to do is bring the tools of improvisation from modern theatre and dance to this experimentrdquoshe saysWassily Kandinskyrsquos Several Circles 1926 Pics CourtesyWikimedia CommonsThe result is an experiment mdash Lamba prefers it over the term performance mdash that will see them interpret Kandinskyrsquos artworks as they are projected on a screen behind This will be complemented by the music of American composer Steve Reich It is made even more unpredictable by the introduction of improvisation via the audience ldquoWhen we say audience participation it is a lot like improv theatre We will pass around chits and ask an audience member to pick an artwork to be displayedrdquo the 36yearold revealsWassily Kandinsky Pic CourtesyWassilykandinskyorgHowever improvisation often implies an element of unpredictability ldquoWe started working on the idea in January this year and have been jamming since Even now the dances are in my headrdquo she laughs That notion of inexpressibility certainly brings the experiment closer to Kandinskyrsquos conception of art we imagineOn February 25 730 pmAt Harkat Studios JP Road Aram Nagar Part 2 VersovaLog on to insiderinCost Rs 350Also check outgtgt Sindhu Mumbai 2024A celebration of classical dance performances unites forms such as kathak bharatnatyam and dance theatre on a single stageON February 25 215 pm onwardsAT Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir Bandra WestLOG ON TO alleventsinCOST Rs 400 onwardsgtgt Dancefloor adventuresIf you are in the mood for some dancingjoy catch Danish prodigy Aum Shanti teaming up with composers Kapaline and Soundpot from India to create some dance magicON February 24 9 pm onwardsAT Kitty Su ground floor The Lalit Mumbai Marol Andheri EastLOG ON TO skillboxescomCOST Rs 499gtgt Pranay ndash A tribute to loveCelebrate the many hues of love through the different and expressive dance styles on stageON February 24 715 pmAT Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Park Hiranandani PowaiLOG ON TO ncpamumbaicom to register