Dancing for Change
Donald Hutera talked to Aakash Odedra and Amina Khayyam, two of a growing number of dance artists who are creating works that engage with difficult social and political issues.
22 December 2017
For those seeking to learn more about South Asian dance in the UK, its artists and development over the last two decades, welcome to our site!
Pulse magazine took snapshots of the dance form on a regular basis – profiling the artists, discussing, critiquing and contextualising their work, thereby keeping the sector informed, connected and energised. The magazine was published from 2002 to 2017, when it migrated to the website www.pulseconnects.com. South Asian music was also featured from 2008 onwards. Our site makes available online this material in the form of articles, interviews, performance reviews and a treasure-trove of photographs of the leading exponents of South Asian dance in the UK.
Pulse has nurtured a team of young writers such as Magdalen Gorringe, Seetal Gahir, Jahnavi Harrison, Shivaangee Agrawal, amongst others, under the guidance of Editor Sanjeevini Dutta and Assistant Editor Gopa Roy. A majority of the high quality images have been generously donated by Simon Richardson, one of the most prominent photographers of South Asian dance.
Thanks to the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, this invaluable material has been made freely available to all. We start with the content from the years 2008-17, with 2002-8 to follow. In time we intend to amalgamate the current site with www.pulseconnects.com.
Features
Manuela Benini and The Red Dress Project
Emma Murphy explores the political and personal in Manuela Benini’s choreographic interactions with industrial landscapes.
22 December 2017
On Ragas and Retweets
Kavya Rajagopalan considers classical arts in the digital world.
27 September 2017
Searching for Sangeet – On the Musicality of Kathak in the UK
At both the level of training and performance, there is a gap between Indian classical music and dance in the… Read More
27 September 2017
Dance at Darbar — In Conversation with Akram Khan
I f there’s one thing that Darbar is known for, apart from the calibre of the artists it features, it is… Read More
27 September 2017
The Changing Face of Classical Dance in India
Leela Venkataraman brings wisdom and insights born from a lifetime of watching dance.
23 June 2017
A Dipstick of Classical Dance in India Today
We hear from a range of voices: Debanjali Biswas, Aditi Mangaldas, Arshiya Sethi, Urmimala Sarkar Munsi and Suhani Singh.
23 June 2017
The Changing Contexts of Dance in India – Kathak Kendra then and now
Sushmita Ghosh, former director of Kathak Kendra, looks at changing approaches in training and sensibility.
23 June 2017
Regulars
“This is your prayer” – The kathak of Nahid Siddiqui
What lies behind our experience when Nahid Siddiqui dances? Yasmin Mahmood shares some insights.
22 November 2017
Nina Rajarani
Jahnavi Harrison looks into the vagaries and challenges that lie behind Nina Rajarani’s career as her company celebrates its 25th year.
4 July 2016
In Conversation – Urja Desai Thakore
It has been a remarkable year for this kathak dancer and choreographer. Interview by Sanjeevini Dutta.
14 September 2015
The Currency of Caste – Arundhati Roy in Conversation with Ken Hunt
Ken Hunt inquires about the influences that inform Arundhati Roy’s writing and activism and the continuing centrality of caste in India since B.R. Ambedkar wrote about it in 1936.
25 March 2015
The Impossible Dream
Gopa Roy learns about the joy and freedom of expression dance offers to those without hearing from Nehal Bhogaita, a member of The Nautch Girl cast and Sanghamitra Datta of the Children in Need Institute in Kolkata
25 March 2015
Skin, Uma (stree vesham) – and Other Journeys in Hari Krishnan’s Contemporary Indian Dance
Toronto-based artist Hari Krishnan is one of the most significant figures on the North American dance scene. Ketu Katrak examines what lies behind his growing international reputation
19 December 2014
Jaswinder Singh – Asian Arts Agency Director in Profile
Jaswinder Singh talked to Sanjeevini Dutta about sharing the excitement of fresh musical influences with audiences in the south-west and beyond.
15 September 2014
In Conversation – Ananya Chatterjea
Sanjeevini Dutta caught up with Ananya Chatterjea on the eve of the tenth anniversary of her eponymous dance company. A passion for women’s rights and social justice is at the heart of her work.
23 June 2014
Reviews
Marg – Contemporary Dance in India
Marg is a premier arts journal, a quarterly publication produced in Mumbai, aimed at the serious art lover.
22 December 2017
Bayadère – The Ninth Life
It’s almost thirty years since Chennai-born Shobana Jeyasingh launched her company with the arresting abstract work Configurations.
22 December 2017
Viplav – Revolution
On a stormy evening in London, Rich Mix was the eye of the storm featuring two serene and strong Indian classical dance forms: mohiniyattam and bharatanatyam.
22 December 2017
YAATRA Research & Development Sharing
In the dark, intimate theatre, I found myself sobbing.
22 December 2017
Akram Khan, Raga & Tala Experience
Spread across four major London venues over four months, the twelfth edition of the Darbar Festival marked the first time that dance was accorded a prominent place in the programming
22 December 2017
Mythili Prakash
I was nervous about watching Mythili from such a perfect seat in the Sadler’s Wells theatre. She had won teenager-me over when she performed at the Bhavan about a decade ago
22 December 2017
Gamechanger
The Gamechanger triple bill opens with Three, choreographed by T.J. Lowe and Subhash Viman Gorania.
22 December 2017
Debasmita Bhattacharya & Gurdain Singh Rayatt
This year the Darbar Festival came to the Sadler’s Wells’ stage for the very first time since its inception in 2006. This concert showcased the talents of Debasmita Bhattacharya and Gurdain Rayatt.
22 December 2017
Young Pulse
The Future for Dance in an Uncertain Landscape
What do millenials do in the face of adversity? Kavya Kaushik takes a look.
27 September 2017
An Inner Voice
Mithila Sarma talked to Carnatic musicians Yarlinie Thanabalasingham and Kobini Ananth about the creation of their innovative work.
27 September 2017
Bring on the Bollywood
B ring on the Bollywood is two and a half hours of phenomenal dancing, a witty script, beautiful choreography.
27 September 2017
Taj Express
The established Merchant family returns to London’s Peacock Theatre this year with another kaleidoscopic Bollywood-inspired production, Taj Express.
27 September 2017
Dance India 2017
Shivaangee Agrawal recounts her experiences of this year’s Dance India.
27 September 2017
Navadal Voices
Participants in Akademi’s youth dance competition talk about competing.
27 September 2017
Old Stories for New Generations — In Conversation with Ishita Mili
Gemma Connell profiles engaging and eclectic artist Ishita Mili.
17 September 2017