Over the years, Attakkalari has undertaken in-depth research into teaching methodologies and the philosophy of movement in Indian performing arts traditions. Notions of knowledge creation and sharing, transfer of aesthetic sensibilities and the process of forming gestures, body lines and movement as cultural symbols, the perception and philosophy of the body as well as the role of breath, focus and music in accentuating and augmenting the experience of movement, have come under the scope of these studies.

NAGARIKA GOES LIVE!

NAGARIKA, a seminal, interactive, online archive of Indian Somatic Traditions and Contemporary Expressions. Nagarika began as an integrated information system on Indian physical traditions through technology and was the first such initiative in India in the field of traditional performing arts. Two chapters were released to the public, a concise elucidation of the classical dance form Bharatanatyam as well as the martial art Kalarippayattu, in the form of two DVDs.

The attempt was to showcase the various concepts of the body as well as the principles of movement underlying the two traditions as articulated by masters of the form. The knowledge they shared is informed by their perspectives and contexts. The DVDs helped us understand the great potential for developing this archive and set out to expand NAGARIKA beyond Indian Somatic Traditions, into the realm of contemporary performative practice, or what we call “Contemporary Expressions”.

It is a collaborative project between Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts and Goethe Institut / Max Muller Bhavan, Bangalore. The Project is produced by Chris Ziegler / movingimages with support of the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media in the NEUSTART KULTUR, tanz:digital program of the Dachverband Tanz Deutschland (German Dance Association)

Body Matters - Move to Transform

The NAGARIKA launch is part of the opening programme of "BODY MATTERS: Move to Transform", Attakkalari’s Arts in Education Festival that is supported by the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka. “Body Matters - Move to Transform” is the first festival of its kind in India that celebrates the important roles dance and movement arts are increasingly playing in the fast-developing innovative education scene in India, particularly in initiatives aimed at the holistic development of students of dance. The festival will explore the possibilities and the need of cultural skills development programmes in dance and performing arts in India. Such self-sustaining structures are integral to the overall development of the performing arts scene. Along with artists from India, this month-long festival will feature performances by artists, collectives from Germany, Italy, Spain, South Korea, Canada and Japan. These international artists will also facilitate various workshops as part of Essence International.

Opening of Body Matters - Move to Transform
Arts in Education Festival

and Nagarika Launch

Venue: Bangalore International Centre

Date: Feb1, 2023

Time: 7pm

The programme for the evening includes a short presentation about the history and process of the “NAGARIKA” archive; followed by the premiere of "Somatic Songlines" a screendance short film coproduced by Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts in partnership with the Royal Norwegian Embassy, and in collaboration with FRIKAR Dance Company (Norway); the evening will come to a close with a multimedia dance performance by the acclaimed Attakkalari Dance Company.

For tickets: Click here