Dvaya is duality, duality in the universe of arts. As is the existence between dance and music, dvaya thrives between two bodies. The exclusivity of a duet work is brought alive when dance is beyond technique. With technique as its base, there begins an inquiry of how dance prevails within and between two bodies in a given space. A synthesis of these exploring bodies is dvaya. In this journey, two individual, separate energies transform to twin energies; and further merge to become one. The concept of duality is epitomized by the ‘Ardhanari’ form of Shiva. The male and female principles in this form, is only to depict its equivalent in the human. These equal and opposite forces, present in each, is expanded to dvaya. Dvaya explores independence and interdependence simultaneously.
Shruti Abhishek is a Bharatanatyam dancer and is currently based in San Francisco. She has had the great privilege of learning from the greats like Padmabhushan Smt Kanak Rele, Director of Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyala, where she got her Degree of Performing Arts. Her training with C V Chandrashekhar from Chennai, cemented her belief to serve and preserve this art form for years to come. Further on, Shruti has had the opportunity to perform in some prestigious festivals in India and Europe namely, NCPA, Modhera dance festival, Natya Darshan- Chennai, India habitat centre - Delhi, Festival Indii -Poland to name a few. Shruti has assisted her teacher Vaibhav Arekar in research and development of many thematic productions like Nama Mhane, Trayyanta and Shiva and toured with the same.
Deepika Panchamukhi is a Bharatanatyam professional based in Germany. A disciple of Rohini Singhi and currently training under renowned artist Vaibhav Arekar, Deepika has been dancing for over 20 years now. She is a graduate in Performing Arts, from the Nalanda Nrtiyakala Mahavidyalaya, under the tutelage of Padma Bhushan Kanak Rele. Deepika has performed at various renowned dance festivals in India and Europe with her Guru Vaibhav Arekar, in his Sankhya Dance Company. Khajuraho Festival, Chidambaram Natyanjali (TamilNadu), National Center for Performing Arts (Mumbai), Indian Habitat Center (Delhi), Kala Ghoda Festival (Mumbai), Festiwal Indii (Poland) to name a few. In addition to performance in Sankhya Dance Company, Deepika has assisted in production research and script writing in many of the thematic productions including ‘Trayyanta’, ‘Nama Mhane - an awakening’ and ‘Usha Aniruddha’.