A weaver prides himself by looking at a simple sari as it has taken up his skill,
time and imagination. Bringing forth the various emotions that run deep, as a cotton
pod transforms into one of India’s most prized possessions, the journey of the
sari was showcased by the Daksha Sheth Dance Company in their production called
the ‘Sari: The Unstitched’. The one-hour-long performance was researched and
created over a period of five years.
Daksha Sheth needs no introduction when it
comes to the world of dance. She has created a niche for herself in Indian and
contemporary dance for the past 45 years and she has excelled in whatever
projects she has undertaken. Based in Kerala, her production company interacts
with dance connoisseurs from around the world. She was inspired by the literary
works on the Sari by sari historian and author Rta Kapur Chishti, who asked her
to adapt her latest book ‘Saris: Tradition and Beyond’ into a dance production.
“For every show, we take a minimum of five years to do research. We have to
create work by going through our research. It is also an education for us when
we take up a subject of interest that we’ve not dwelt upon earlier. Rta has put
in years of research into writing her 16 books on the sari and it was important
to understand the weavers. We have showcased a man putting a sari on a woman
and how the sari is worn across different states of India,” explains Daksha
Sheth.
The music for the production is composed
by Devissaro, Daksha’s husband, who has worked for over two and a half years to
get the music to touch the hearts of the audience while telling the weaver’s
story. “The dances had to be in sync with the music. We get dancers from all
across the country, who want to be a part of the production. In Kerala, our
base, we have local male dancers but we get female contemporary dancers from
places like Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Rajasthan, etc. Every production
is an experience that is both visually and aurally pleasing,” says Devissaro.
He further adds, “Our main goal is to reach everyone. If we want to be a source
of communication, we have to speak in a language that is understandable for
everyone.”
‘Sari: The Unstitched’ recently returned from their tour of the
United Kingdom, where they performed at the India at UK 2017 festival. “We had
five shows in the UK and they were all very good. We got a standing ovation
after each performance, which speaks a lot about our work. In Goa, too, we had
a standing ovation in a stadium. The story of the sari is relatable even in the
UK as the subject is without complexity and with the dances, the audience
enjoys it. The show is open to a wider audience, right from a child to a
teenager to an elderly person. If you are a musician, you will understand the
techniques of the music and if you are a dancer, you will feel inspired. ‘Sari:
The Unstitched’ is simple and the audience wants to be with you on the
journey,” says Daksha.
The
Daksha Sheth Dance Company has presented their Indian contemporary dance work
in more than 30 different countries and at more than 25 international
festivals. “We will be performing ‘Sari: The Unstitched’ on May 4, 2018 in
Paris. Through the Serendipity Arts Festival, many people who watched the
production have called to inquire about the performance. There will be more
shows in India before we leave for Paris,” says Daksha.
