shambik ghose

My artistic identity is rooted in the sensibilities of both Traditional and Contemporary dance,  and in developing a research enquiry I was curious about their distinct approaches to training dance and devising performances. The training and performance processes in Traditional dance reveal a rigid approach, that limits the extent to which practitioners can experiment with the structural and philosophical integrity of the form. In response to this strict attitude within the pedagogic and performance culture of traditional dance, my research attempts to assist traditional and contemporary dancers with a training method that will support them in reviewing their existing knowledge in context to pedagogy and performance with strategies to experience creative possibilities in expanded landscapes.  

My approach to dance research has been informed by over 16 years of experience as a teacher, performer, and choreographer. Key to my development as an artist and researcher have been international collaboration through my work in hybrid artistic practices with my wife Dr. Mitul Sengupta and our dance company Rhythmosaic.  Although our creative work evolves out of hybridizing specific South Asian dance traditions Kathak and western Jazz dance techniques, its choreographic renditions rarely exhibit symbolical or gestural codifications related to those specific movement cultures. The artistic practice in the studio emerges through the exploration of the embodied physical wisdom rooted in various movement traditions that the artist brings with them in the practice.  

Nested in the above philosophy Rhythmosaic in association with Leeds School of Arts, and Kalasangam Bradford presents ‘CONVERSING WITH THE CROW’ a Kathak contemporary dance performance that celebrates women and their role in the world today. The ‘CROW’ is a metaphor for the severity and austerity of contemporary global conflict. The evening honors the resilience of women in this world of fragmented hopes. The gaze silently observes as she disintegrates uncountable times, and she rises, gathers herself and she moves on – unbroken, undaunted.  

Date: 11th March 2023 

Time: 7.30 pm 

Venue: Kalasangam Bradford