At the end of 2021 Aakash Odedra engaged with Lewis Major Projects and STRUT Dance to work over several weeks with Australian choreographers Isha Sharvani; Adrianne Semmens; Xin Hui Ong and Sarah Chaffey. Aakash introduced the roots of his movement style, exploring Kathak’s rhythmic qualities and detailed his personal dance language, a unique fusion of traditional Indian and contemporary Western styles. The five artists explored influences of their individual heritage and cultural practices on their creative practice. They also discussed, with input from Simon Sharkey and Keshav Gupta, the effects of changing environments specifically in UK, Australia and India, and how art can be used as a catalyst in exposing environmental issues.
Aakash Odedra Company commissioned the four Australian artists, Xin, Sarah, Adrianne and Isha, mentored by Deborah May, Adelina Larsson and Lewis Major, to make short dance films inspired by the cultural, heritage and environmental discoveries they had explored. These commissions have been supported by the British Council and the Australian Government as part of the UK/Australia Season. We are proud to release these films for you to enjoy.
We are also held a live-streamed Q&A with the choreographers and partners on Tuesday 15 March to gain a deeper insight to the programme and the creative process that led to the creation of these four films. This livestream was also recorded and can be watched below.
Dance Film Dance Plus - watch the films now:
Pipe Dream
Director & Choreographer
Xin Hui Ong
Performers
Mitchell Aldridge
Brent Rollins
Composer
Nicholas Gardiner
Camera
Georgia Ivers
Editor
Xin Hui Ong
Producer
Deborah May
Mentor
Adelina Larsson Mendoza
Commissioned by Aakash Odedra Company
Produced by STRUT Dance
Current
Director & Choreographer
Isha Sharvani
Performers
Isha Sharvani
Russell Thorpe
Mike Makossa
Luca Issaro
Sound, Sound designer, composer and percussionist
Tao Issaro
Co-composor and vocals
Neha Nair
Guitarist
Ben Sam Jones
Mixing, Sound Mastering
Laurie Sinagra
Cinematography DP, Scenographer and Editor
Michael Makossa (kineticalchemy.org)
Movement Director
Russell Thorpe
Commissioned by Aakash Odedra Company
Produced by Isha Sharvani
Limbo
Director & Choreographer
Sarah Chaffey
Performers
Talitha Maslin
Annmarie Clifton-James
Hannah Mitchell
Kailyn Tang
Composer
Matthew Lyall Cole
Camera
Jessica Russell
Editor
Sarah Chaffey
Producer
Deborah May
Mentor
Adelina Larsson Mendoza
Commissioned by Aakash Odedra Company
Produced by STRUT Dance
Underfoot
Director & Choreographer
Adrianne Semmens
Performers
Janelle Egan
Kaine Sultan-Babij
Adrianne Semmens
Composer
Bree Tranter
Cinematographer
Johanis Lyons-Reid
1st AC
Sarah McDonald
Editor
Johanis Lyons-Reid
Producer & Mentor
Lewis Major
Commissioned by Aakash Odedra Company
Produced by Lewis Major Projects
Watch the live Q&A with the artists and mentors
A live streamed Q&A between Aakash Odedra Company and the artists who created the four dance films above, Isha Sharvani, Adrianne Semmens, Xin Hui Ong and Sarah Chaffey, supported by their mentors Deborah May, Lewis Major and Adelina Larsson.