Meet the Rose Choreographic School cohort Watch dance films by the featured artists
Based in Sadler’s Wells East, the Rose Choreographic School supports 13 artists over two years as they work on research projects exploring what choreography is and can be. Watch films made by members of the current school cohort and learn more about their practices.
Optics by Anjana Bala
This poignant film is a contemporary South Asian dance work that draws upon Indian classical rhythms, shapes, and geometries. Created by dance artist and anthropologist Anjana Bala alongside talented collaborators, the film uses optics as a metaphor for visibility, exploring how we pursue it and the emotional consequences it entails.
Set against shifting landscapes of light and the edges of visibility, this film explores our complex relationship with being seen and social worth – oscillating between competing for it and resisting it, between perfection and imperfection, between embracing dreams of recognition and discovering one’s own light.
Digital Stage will continue to add more films by the Rose Choreographic School cohort throughout the year. Be the first to hear about these new films by signing up to our mailing list.
Find out more about the Rose Choreographic School here.
Credits
Optics by Anjana Bala
Choreography, Artistic Direction, Writer: Anjana Bala
Dance Artists: Aishani Ghosh, Adhya Shastry, Anjana Bala
Direction, Edit, Color: Wilkie Branson
Composer: Nicole Robson
Director of Photography: Cathy Ye
Rehearsal Direction/Dramaturgy: Nandita Shankardass
Tabla and Production Support: Ritesh Sunnasy
1st Assistant Camera: Angus Cheung
Veena: Booni Bala
Audio Description: Shivaangee Agrawal & Elaine Lillian Joseph (SoundScribe)
Photography: Vidya Patel
Special Thanks: Eva Martinez, Seeta Patel, Julien Kottukapally
Commissioned By:
Moving Online: Ontology and Ownership of Internet Dance
AHRC and Centre for Dance Research (C-DaRE), Coventry University
PI: Dr. Hetty Blades
Grant number: AH/W01002X/1
CC BY-NC 4.0
Further Support By:
Akademi – South Asian Dance UK
East London Dance
Rose Choreographic School
Coventry University’s ESRC Impact Acceleration Account