Forbidden

Contemporary dance based on Kathak

Solo by Aditi Mangaldas

World Premiere: Dec. 4th 2022, Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai, India

Commissioned by: Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company – The Drishtikon Dance Foundation

Co-commissioned by: National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai Sadler’s Wells, London

History confirms there is a deep-seated fear of female sexual desire. Why are women the world over, from conservative as well as liberal societies; sanctioned, judged, controlled, hounded, shamed and eventually punished because they have the courage to own their desire?

What is at the root of this fear?

I quote Mr. Devdutt Pattanaik, “fantasy frightens us, especially female fantasy… One way of regulating fantasy has been by propagating stories where women who pursue their desires are viewed as dangerous, hence need to be restrained for social good.”

Evidence from all cultures is the subterranean elixir that nourishes the making of FORBIDDEN, which traverses through a gamut of emotions and states of being, while reclaiming and owning desire.

Awakening: Dream, Fragrant flower, Cage
Playing the Game: Denial, Adornment, Seduction, Rage
Burning: My story, Consigning to flames all that is FORBIDDEN

‘Women have somehow been separated from their libido, from their faculty of desire, from their sexuality’ Germaine Greer / Judith Weinraub NY Times 1971 – ‘Opinions that May Shock the Faithfull’

Choreographer’s note:
“Artists are driven to explore subjects that consume them. That drive is a possession which compels artists to face and share provocative issues.

“It’s extremely important to recognize that none of us are above social conditioning; no matter how much we would like to believe that it doesn’t impact us, it does….”- Devrupa Rakshit, Associate Editor, The Swaddle.

There are countless insidious ways that taboos creep into one’s daily existence. Social structures, mythology, images from popular culture, the culture of shame that women live with, all become a subconscious stream that shape our behaviour.

As an artist, I feel compelled to confront these taboos. FORBIDDEN has been realised after months of internalisation, debate, troughs and peaks; as each collaborator offered nuance to the work, till I found myself immersed in it.

Female sexuality is private but the taboos attached to it requires and demands taking a stand on the universal, public and personal front.

As I ventured on this journey, I held the words of Jalaluddin Rumi close, “Dance, when you’re broken open. Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you’re perfectly free. Dance until you shatter yourself!” – Aditi Mangaldas

Credits:
Concept, Dance and Choreograph: Aditi Mangaldas
Dramaturge: Farooq Chaudhry
Mentor: Morag Deyes
Light Design: Michael Hulls
Associate Lighting Designer: Ryan Joseph Stafford
Music Composer: Nicki Wells
Musical Arrangements, Production, Programming, Engineering & Mixing: Nicki Wells
Indian Classical Renditions: Faraz Ahmed & Ashish Gangani
Musicians: Nicki Wells & Faraz Ahmed (Vocals), Ashish GanganiI (Pakhawaj), Saskia Rao-De Hass (Indian Cello) & Mohit Gangani (Tabla)
Costume Design: Kimie Nakano
Costume Realisation: Sandhya Raman
Technical Director: Christopher Flux
Rehearsal Director: Gaurav Bhatti
Production Management: Sangeeta Rana & Kusum Arora

Production: Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company – The Drishtikon Dance Foundation

Box Office now Open.