Tides of Passage is an ode in dance to Time.

A dancer is moved by brief, distinct, seasonal happenings. She flows through a multitude of states and landscapes, becoming and disintegrating, unrestrained.

Set to ancient south Indian Konnakol rhythms, melodic string overlays and contemporary dance, Tides of Passage flows through experiences of the imminent and the eternal, as a means of returning home, to Nature, to the body.

Through her new work “Tides of Passage”, Nayana continues her ongoing choreographic research on the application of Indian classical dance-theatre influences into contemporary dance performance contexts, albeit this time more explicitly than ever before.

About the Project:

In this work, Nayana plays with the dramaturgical strategies inspired by the ancient Indian treatise on dance-theatre, the Natyashastra. The scenarios interpreted by the dancer, have a distinct narrative, mythological character. 

As counterpoints, Nayana invites three artists from diverse artistic and cultural backgrounds to collaborate with her - south Indian percussionist Karthik Mani, contemporary dancer Helene Schuhknecht, and American strings player Chris Dahlgren on Viola da Gamba.

The performance will be a contemporary dance solo performed by Helene Schuhknecht, set to an original sound design, consisting of south Indian vocal rhythms of Konnakol and percussive soundscapes by Mani, and melodic string overlays by Dahlgren.

“Tides of Passage”, a nod of acknowledgement to the choreographer’s Indian heritage, flows through experiences of the imminent and the eternal, as a means of returning home, to Nature, to the body.

This project will be premiered at the PERFORMdANCE Festival on 15th of April, 2025, 19:30 hrs in ARGEkultur Saal. Go here for tickets!