Dancers of Indian styles speak through meticulously applied technique. In this way the dancer’s body faithfully speaks the language of their gurus and carry forth the mid-twentieth century repertoire of Odissi to the present day. But what if we let the dancer’s body speak the many embodied languages she knows? What if the 21st century Odissi dancer could allow her body to speak in many tongues- the embodied language of the quotidian, the clownish, the folk, the pop and the urban?
In this work Maitra and dancers at Chowk showcase the range of languages the trained dancer can speak through her body – a range of embodiments across caste, class, ethnic, urban and rural lines. A new creole of Asian performance emerges, filling the gaps between the 20, discrete steps of Odissi that are the pedagogic and creative backbone of the form.
In 2007, founder Raka Maitra began teaching Odissi, a classical dance from East of India to a handful of eager students which gradually grew in numbers to form a community who bonded over a common love for dance. Raka’s own aspirations to create original works led her to choreograph and experiment with the form which brought it to festivals all over the world. In 2014, the company Chowk Productions was formed, establishing it as a professional dance company when Chowk got awarded the Seed Grant by the National Arts Council.
Since then, Chowk has continuously pushed boundaries in the world of dance, bringing exciting, original works which incorporate Asian sensibilities with new theatre traditions, transcending cultural boundaries and redefining what it means to amalgamate past and present in today’s multicultural society. Chowk was recognised as a Major Company by the National Arts Council in 2021 and is internationally recognised as a pioneer of a unique Asian contemporary dance language that dissolves the dichotomy between tradition and modernity.
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Chloe is based in Singapore and Manila, Philippines
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Biodynamic Somatic Therapy is a method of gently realigning the body’s dynamics to release tension, restore balance, and support holistic healing from chronic pain, stress, and emotional volatility.
Biodynamic Somatic Therapy (BST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that works with the body’s natural rhythms to reorganise from misaligned or overworked states into more fluid, available, and spacious states of internal harmony.
Rooted in Craniosacral dynamics, BST focuses on the spine—the core of the central nervous system—helping to address chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, and the lingering effects of trauma.
