Virodhabhasa – The Paradox (world premiere) is a new solo choreographed and performed by the renowned Indian Bharatanatyam artist Navia Natarajan. It is inspired by paradoxes, and the idea that to better appreciate this world, we need to look more deeply at opposites and contradictions. A whirling vortex of energy and grace, Natarajan has a luminous presence on stage. She stays true to the rigours of classical technique, but injects her work with a questioning spirit, steeped in contemporary innovation.
“A personal tragedy that held within it both sadness and peace led me to consider more deeply this idea of paradox. As I lived through those difficult days, my thinking about paradox began to transform and find expression in my dance. This work is my ongoing attempt to investigate the profound nature of paradox.” – Navia Natarajan
Born in India and currently based in Bangalore, Natarajan trained in Bharatanatyam from an early age, and had her arangetram under Smt. Radhika Kalyani at the age of ten in Madras. Later she trained under Guru Smt. Padmini Ramachandran (Bangalore), Guru Sir A. Lakshmanaswamy (Chennai) and Abhinaya Exponent Guru Smt Bragha G. Bessel. She has choreographed and performed across India, Europe and the US, and is the recipient of many prestigious awards.
This work is commissioned and presented by Mandala Arts and Culture in partnership with The Dance Centre.
Photos by Jayasimha Reddy.