Urja: A Contemporary Dance Performance

Navala Chaudhari and Nathaniel Parchment work internationally as dance performers, teachers and choreographers. For the past 17 years they have worked with some of the most renowned choreographers, including Shobana Jeyasingh, Akram Khan, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Stan Wont Dance and DV8 Physical Theatre.

They have been working for the past 2 years as Co-Artistic Directors of the Goa Dance Residency, a 3-month contemporary dance education programme in Goa, India. They provide international standard training and performance for both Indian and International dance artists. Their vision is to invest in platforms for cultures to meet, develop their practice and share their stories.

Jason Kalidas is an Indian Classical multi-instrumentalist and composer, performing internationally for the past 20 years who also is a collaborator on the Goa Dance Residency.

‘Urja’ is an enthusiastic play between musician and dancers. Melody is the fi rst aspect that entwines dancer and musician in a conversation of provocation and invitation; at once an intimate act and a promise of potentials. The second aspect is an exchange in rhythm, with fast, fl eeting call and response as well as a teasing and jocular duel. The piece concludes with a joining of the fi rst two aspects into something larger than the sum of its parts, emerging into new creative possibility.

An evolution, a meeting, a union.