How Kathak dancer Aditi Mangaldas is bring stories from the war zone to the stage

The steady clap of taal paired with rhythmic syllables or bols echo inside the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre at National Centre for the Performing Arts NCPA A group of professional Kathak dancers are immersed in Aditi Mangaldasrsquos command They are revising a piece based on the movement of a deer through the woodsldquoRelax and notice the space on the stage Think how you will use itrdquo she softens the focus She leads a trataka eye exercise a yogic practice to explore the dancerrsquos gaze ldquoThe thehrav stillness in the dancerrsquos gaze is an internal exploration Nothing is changing but you shift your brain energyrdquo she explainsldquoLetrsquos gordquo she announces taking centre of the stage as the vocalist recites the taal supported by the mridamgam Together they immerse in a sprightly 40second choreography flowing with tatkar footwork and chakkars swirlsMangaldas says that with classical dance form as a base the movement vocabulary expands for the body to communicate the storyFor the 66yearold National Sangeet Natak Akademi award winner 2013 who has trained under Shrimati Kumudini Lakhia and Pandit Birju Maharaj collaboration and dialogue keeps the childlike process of wonder alive ldquoMy dance needs to age with merdquo she saysMangaldas conducted a threeday microresidency last week as part of her Living Legacy Project that invites dance artistes to facilitate dialogue for artistic exploration in movement The workshop explored a Kathak piece within its repertoire of Nritta Nritya and Natya and understanding the contemporary dance that stems from itAditya Garud Mumbaibased Kathak dancer and choreographer who attended the workshop says Mangaldasrsquo forte lies in being able to articulate the intention of the movement ldquoShe encourages everyone to dance their own dance think between the lines and see how a bandish resonates within With the classical dance form as base the movement vocabulary expands for the body to communicate the storyrdquoTo watch Mangaldas on stage is to witness her agile grace ldquoI canrsquot dance like I did in my 20s I must dance what I have now with emotion and intelligence I have trained myself to bring forth the physicality and energy in a different wayrdquo says Mangaldas who in 2024 won the UK Theatre Award 2024 in the category of lsquoAchievement in Dancersquo for MEHEK a duet with her cochoreographer and dancer Aakash Odedra Most of her works stem from ideas that move her ldquoI immerse myself in issues that burn merdquo she says giving the example of her work Within ldquoIt began as an exploration of relationships Then the tragic Nirbhaya case happened and the piece became an exploration of relationships within usrdquo she explains The piece used masks as a metaphor for claustrophobia for truth trapped in fear and conditioningHer work reflects universality so anyone can view it regardless of geography ldquoFor a piece on Krishna we played with just three lights to represent his omnipresence One can enter the piece through the poetry and the text through the abhinaya or the gestural language or the body Or through the music lighting or the visualsrdquoHer next upcoming work titled The Absence of PRESENCE will feature at the NCPA in October Based on the mass killing of children in conflict areas Mangaldas calls it a difficult production ldquoEvery day someone on the team is having a breakdown For such a production you rely on craft and let it take over At one point you open the floodgates of your heartrdquo she saysBy removing geography and history from the narrative the piece questions what such a tragedy does to society ldquoHow can you ever justify a 10monthold baby being shot to pieces as collateral damagerdquoOften called an art activist Mangaldas maintains her courage exists in the creative forum of dance and music ldquoA poet will write poetry a dancer will dance I am expressing what I feelrdquo she addsThe residency ended with a tecircteagravetecircte with her core team sharing learnings on lighting set design movement development and mentoring ldquoSurround yourself with people you questionThrow your ideas and see where it goes First nothing happens and then there is breakthrough The key is to be patient and allow the process to happenrdquo Mangaldas signs off