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“The form seems more readily suited to channel the grander epic/legend/myth. Everyday life and experiences seem to demand a dismantling of very formal structures and yet Nadhi and her dancers managed to override my initial skepticism with their continuous montage of many scenes and high energy dancing.”
- Anita Ratnam
Thrilled to share that we are a New Music USA Organization Fund awardee!
The elegance and posture maintained while performing fast-paced arm gestures, and rhythmic footwork was impressive, as was the control required to balance in poses.
Nava Dance Theatre has gracefully married tradition with modernity, allowing for the exploration of modern themes to be appreciated across cultural divides.
Broken Seeds is well-researched and well-constructed. Thekkek and Tut studied contemporary history, witness statements, interviews, documentaries, news reports and even poetry to ensure the work authentically conveys the lived experiences of both those alive at the time and their descendants.
Born out of a collaboration between Nadhi, a dancer, and Rupy a visual artist, and a shared passion for telling our stories – Broken seeds still grow, is a symphony of dance, paintings, music, calligraphy, music, song, prose and poetry. Rupy’s empathetic narration is accompanied by her stunning visuals, which provide the perfect context to the mesmerizing and energetic dance performances by Nadhi and her team.
Nava’s latest work, “Rogue Gestures/Foreign Bodies,” is inspired by Thekkek’s mother, who moved to the U.S. as an unmarried nurse in 1978, and remained working even after agreeing to an arranged marriage and having children. Thekkek traces this story back to the 1965 Immigration Act, which ended many racially discriminatory practices and opened an era of Indian immigration — including Indian women who came alone to work jobs in health care