Next stop Bengaluru for Asian street performers’ fest

That art has a universal appeal is no secret. But when performers use their craft to talk about issues that affect people belonging to different social and cultural geographies, the impact tends to intensify. Bengaluru-based dancer-choreographer Archana Kumar, along with a group of other artistes, recently toured Asia as part of a unique project built along those lines.From theatrical and movement acts, workshops and discussions to impromptu dialogues, a series of street performances were crafted under the ‘Asia Meets Asia’ project.
“This year’s mode of storytelling was based on the . Although the approach and treatment were largely surreal and metaphorical, the short stories were well thought out and focused on the real-life experiences and problems of people in this continent, shedding light on natural disasters and societal woes,” says Archana, adding, “We are planning to carry out a similar arts project in India next year, including places like Bengaluru, Delhi and Imphal in the tour.” The three-city India tour is tentatively scheduled for September 2018. Archana has been part of this initiative since 2005.
The production turns the spotlight on the coexistence of various people from different religions and races. Similar to the story , this episode talks about how Asian women have to go through difficult situations. The 2017 show – that comprised 12 artistes – was staged in the famous Jagalchi Market in Busan, South Korea. The motive was to share these stories and portray the tough lives of the women fish sellers, better known as Omoni.
More than just putting up a show, the project aims at promoting exchanges among contemporary artiste groups across nations in Asia. Talking about her acts, Archana says, “Through one of my enactments, I shared the story of a Hindu woman in India. Although the dialogues were in Hindi, my movements and the tone of my voice did manage to strike a chord with the audiences and help them decipher its underlying meaning. The overall intention was to touch upon recent issues and disasters that are still raw in public memory and in a way share their grief, as well as push people from their comfort zone and encourage them to think and articulate their thoughts.”
In a special act during the event, Archana paid tribute to one of the most traumatic incidents in South Korea’s history — the 2014 ferry disaster in Seoul that took the life of over 300 people, most of whom were teenagers on a school trip. It was an image-oriented performance, with lamps and lullabies used as props. It also threw questions like are we sensitive enough to teach important aspects of life to our children at the onlookers.