Message from our Artistic Director
2024/25: A Year of the Voice
This year has truly been a year of the voice.
To witness a whisper grow into a silent scream, and that scream evolve from an untamed, raw call into a refined, resonant frequency shaped by years of trial and error, has been life-changing.
Through the creation of Mehek and Bulbul, I have learned something deeply important: do it because you love it, because it feels right for your soul. When work is born from sincerity, it manifests with honesty and integrity.
These two works were not the obvious or “clever” choices. They were risks. But they’ve reminded me that as artists, we are here to take risks , to tread unfamiliar ground. Sometimes we fall, but those falls remind us to climb higher and to rediscover what it means to be human: fragile, vulnerable, and real. And through that vulnerability, strength is born.
This year, my inner whisper has found both its strength and direction.
Bulbul and Mehek received remarkable validation, multiple five-star reviews, five awards, and recognition from The Guardian as two of the top four productions of the year. One might call this a golden year, a year to remember.
Our training programme Roots reached people from far and wide, people drawn to the company’s energy and growth. We’ve connected with audiences from every walk of life, and what has been most beautiful for me personally is the sense of equality and shared experience in our studios, workshops, and auditoriums.
In these spaces, we shared countless moments of real presence, moments of simply being, in an increasingly disconnected world. That felt like a true gift.
With Skinder joining the team, I feel I’ve found a fellow dreamer, someone with whom I can bounce the impossible, and see it come back as possible. His alternate, sonic energy has created a protective, cosmic force that nurtures ideas.
Alongside him, Masoom has been a vital support, someone who brings order to my chaos, who helps me think differently. Each of these collaborations has shaped the success of this year.
Through our learning and participation programmes, we’ve continued to build an oasis in the urban jungle of Belgrave. With little investment in the area’s infrastructure, it’s inspiring to see people walk into our studios smiling, and leave with even bigger smiles.
For me, it’s never just about creating professional dancers. It’s about creating professional dreamers and thinkers, people unbound by age or social status. These dreamers are change-makers. When they attend a class, they bring that energy home, to their families, their friends, their communities. One person’s participation can ripple out to change the lives of many.
At the same time, programmes like Roots, focused on professionals and emerging artists, are essential. They are the future, the cross-pollinators of the worlds we inhabit. Planting a seed with one young professional is like planting an entire flower bed.
Together, we are creating an ecosystem: dreamers supporting professionals, professionals inspiring dreamers. Education, for us, is not about teaching, it’s about learning from one another, opening our hearts so we can translate ideas in ways people can recognise and relate to.
True accessibility comes not from building walls of rules, but from creating space for connection.
Through our productions, from Little Murmur to Mehek, we’ve aimed to bridge generations and experiences. If you imagine these works as two ends of a bridge, people crossing from both sides can meet in the middle, say hello, and exchange something real. Acknowledgement grows into curiosity, and curiosity gives way to possibility.
To sum up this extraordinary year:
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We have now performed over 200 shows of Little Murmur.
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We created and performed a large-scale production with a world-renowned Kathak artist, winning the UK Theatre Award.
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We created and premiered Bulbul at the Edinburgh International Festival, where it won the prestigious Best Show Award.
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We were invited to perform as part of the Venice Biennale.
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And through our community programme, we worked with over 450 women aged 50+, who have become part of the AOC family.
It feels like we have moved from “I” Aakash the soloist to “We”, the collective company.
Growth has taken many forms, and it will continue to do so.
AOC has grown from a raindrop to a stream, and now, a river flowing steadily towards the ocean.
So, enjoy the ride.
With best wishes,
Aakash Odedra
