Some of the best philosophy is told through storytelling. Writers like Fyodor Dostoevsky, Jean Paul Sartre and Mary Shelley use stories to communicate profound philosophical concepts—warnings against nihilism, the authority of the individual and what it means to be a human being—in a format that does not require a graduate degree to comprehend. Dance has the ability to take this process one step further by telling stories that physically embody philosophy, making it known through both intellect and senses.
Since 1975, Hema Rajagopalan—dancer, choreographer, philosopher—and Natya Dance Theatre have been exploring the philosophy of connection through the lens of Bharatanatyam, the classical Indian dance form notable for its superb method of storytelling, using the full body but particularly hand gestures, articulation of the eyes and foot percussion to communicate narrative and emotion. To celebrate Natya’s fiftieth anniversary, the company and the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago present “Sharīra Sharīri – Held Within” on March 19-21 (FREE admission for Columbia students), described as a contemporary Indian dance performance that “explores the profound philosophical idea that nothing exists independently and that every body (Sharīra) is held, sustained, and animated by a deeper indwelling presence (Sharīri).”
The philosophy of connection is a through line of Natya’s extensive repertoire, highlighting the interdependence shared between people and with nature. The Chicago dance scene is no exception— “For example,” explains Rajagopalan, “[See Chicago Dance] is writing this article. If you don’t write something about me, then I won’t be written about. That affects me. And if I don’t perform then you don’t have a job. That affects you. We’re interdependent.”
But connecting people is not always easy. Natya has recently incurred setbacks to their tradition of introducing international artists to Chicago audiences. The restructuring of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services by the current federal administration has prevented Natya from hiring musicians from India. “Normally the visas take two or three months,” says Rajagopalan, “but we applied in September and still have not heard from them.” In addition, the federal government’s revised and narrow definition of what cultural institutions deserve funding has negatively impacted Natya’s budget—a complaint echoed by numerous dance companies across the country.
The capricious treatment of cultural programming by the government in addition to the evolving cultural zeitgeist has led Rajagopalan to a bitter realization. “I’ve been troubled for a long time about what’s happening around us,” she says. “We don’t have equity although we are essentially all the same.” She says that, in her fifty years living in the U.S., people have become more disconnected. “So, I thought we need to make people realize that we have the same source, and we are interdependent, connected, something that you do affects me.” For Rajagopalan, the need to communicate that all lives are linked and held together by a spiritual, divine force has become more crucial than ever, hence it serves as the theme of her new work.
“Sharīra Sharīri – Held Within,” conceptualized and choreographed by Rajagopalan, tells the story of a river’s journey from its source to the ocean. As the river begins to travel, she starts thinking, “You know what? I’m the one who brings water to villagers on both sides of my banks; because of me, the trees are growing; the crops are flourishing; the vegetation and the flowers and the flora are all because of me.” Her ego is very high. As she moves along, the river meets two more rivers, each with their own individual ways of thinking. They represent the diversity of all life. The river comes to a point where there are embankments and dams, where people are fighting over the water. The river thinks, “I’m the one who decides who gets the water. I’m the queen!” But nature challenges the river’s hubris. There is drought. She is depleted to nearly a trickle, suffering and in pain. She moves forth and finally reaches the ocean and realizes that she is but a part of something bigger, that even the mighty river is connected to and dependent on a larger, living force.
Nine dancers represent the rivers, plants and animals—strutting peacocks and soaring birds, trees, creeping vines, blooming flowers—and belligerent villagers who engage in bloodshed and violence as they fight with each other for the water. The set is minimal, and the work relies on chimerical costumes designed by Sandhya Raman, with dancers adding or subtracting articles of clothing as they transform from one character to the next, and lighting design by Elyjah Kleinsmith to create a surreal atmosphere that treads the line between realism and mythology.
Music by Dr. Rajkumar Bharathi, pre-recorded in India, creates soundscapes that mimic birds flying, swans walking, deer jumping, composed in an aesthetic that is a mix of Indian classical with Carnatic and Hindustani music but with the incorporation of Western instruments, like violin, saxophone, strings, and different percussive elements, that add a touch of jazziness to the score.
Accompanying the work is an on-site exhibit documenting the legacy of Rajagopalan and Natya. Presented collaboratively by the Dance Center, the Newberry Library, and Chicago Dance History Project, the exhibit is a celebration of fifty years of work, including snippets from Natya’s outstanding collaborations with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Silk Road Ensemble, Hedwig Dances, Mordine and Company, Lookingglass Theatre, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and more.
Like all of Natya’s canon, “Sharīra Sharīri – Held Within” is representative of Rajagopalan’s philosophy, put simply, “to get better, to love each other, to share, to lose one’s ego.” Rather than narrating philosophy, Natya’s work embodies it, allowing the audience to experience phenomenally the interconnection of all beings and how they are intertwined with the source of life, a message as old as the practice of philosophy itself, reimagined by a classical dance company whose tradition is to be contemporary.
“Sharīra Sharīri – Held Within” is presented by Natya Dance Theatre and Columbia College Chicago and runs March 19-21 at Columbia’s Dance Center, 1306 S Michigan. Showtimes are March 19 & 20 at 7:30pm; March 21 at 12pm. Tickets are $30 general admission, $10 Non-Columbia Student Ticket, FREE for Columbia students. For more info, check out the event page by clicking HERE.
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