Mehek is an enchanting exploration of the human heart, its desires, courage, and resilience, masterfully brought to life by the artistry of Aakash Odedra and Aditi Mangaldas, the great South Asian dancers of their respective generations. This captivating performance gives a voice to an unspoken and overlooked love story. Centred around a mature woman and a younger man, the dance delves deep into their intricate characters, challenging norms and redefining the very essence of love.

In this mesmerizing work, the stage transforms into a canvas where rhythmic tales of desire unfold, entwined with the elements of nature. The mirrors, akin to the calming waters of the sea, reflect the duality of their love story—the tranquil surface and the tumultuous waves beneath. Through these mirrors, the performance reveals that love is not only a personal journey within oneself but also a profound connection and exploration through the other.

Derived from the Hindi word for fragrance, the title alludes to the enduring power of memory and the essence of love itself. Mangaldas, alongside Odedra in her first ever duet, weave together a narrative that celebrates love in all its forms, it is raw, authentic, and infinitely resonant.

Based in Leicester, United Kingdom, Aakash Odedra Company exists to deliver exceptional creative experiences for audiences and participants and to help create a society that is happier and healthier through dance and the arts.

We want to ensure that our dance work reflects excellence, removes barriers to access excellent dance and art and makes art and dance education opportunities more widely available. Our mission is to create dance works through a synthesis of kathak, bharatanatyam, contemporary and Bollywood-jazz which push boundaries, responding to and drawing inspiration from contemporary issues.

Bilingual in classical and contemporary dance, we use the voice of British-Asian experience to translate ancient and contemporary movement languages to tell new stories relevant to today.

Our location within Leicester’s international communities has allowed us to be more aware of, and pro-active about, the opportunities of plural heritage and the importance of a culture of accessibility, social justice, messaging and making people feel welcome.

Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company – The Drishtikon Dance Foundation aims to achieve excellence and virtuosity in the rich classical Indian dance form of Kathak, as well as encourage the spirit of innovation. Headed by Aditi Mangaldas, a leading dancer and choreographer in the classical Indian dance form of Kathak, the dance company has been established with a vision to look at tradition with a modern mind and to explore the past to create a new, imaginative dance vocabulary.

Besides presenting classical productions at prestigious international festivals around the world, Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company is well known for its dynamic repertoire of contemporary dance based on Kathak productions like FORBIDDEN, INTER_RUPTED, WITHIN, NOW IS & TIMELESS, which have all won much critical acclaim across the world and are known for their powerful narratives.

Mehek Credits
Choreographers / Performers Aakash Odedra and Aditi Mangaldas
Dramaturg Karthika Naïr
Lighting Designer Fabiana Piccioli
Original Music Score and Sound Design Nicki Wells
Set Designer Tina Tzoka
Additional Music Composition Ashish Gangani,Faraz Ahmed & Hiren Chate
Musicians Ashish Gangani, Faraz Ahmed, Hiren Chate & Nicki Wells
Rehearsal Director Gaurav Bhatti
Production Manager Salvatore Scollo
Costume Digvijay Singh and Aditi Mangaldas

Company Credits
Artistic Director Aakash Odedra
Executive Director Ali Robertson
Producer Megan Maw
General Manager Elaine Mulvihill
Operations and Administration Assistant Jack Scriven
Marketing Officer Emma Ikävalko
Finance Officer and Participation Manager Jayna Patel