‘Fractured Harmonies’: A call for renewal through dance

Padma Shri Kathak guru Shovana Narayan and her Asavari Repertory will present Fractured Harmonies: A Call for Renewal at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi, on September 10 at 7 PM. The dance production explores environmental disruption across water, land and space, and the possibility of restoration and renewal.

Conceived by Shovana Narayan, the production examines the impact of environmental degradation on communities, particularly women and vulnerable sections of society. It also looks at the role of collective action and the regenerative forces of Sooraj, Hawa aur Paani in restoring balance with nature.

The production brings together dancers from the Asavari Repertory, musicians, designers, visual artists and technical professionals. The dancers include Dr Pallavi Lohani, Komal Biswal, Suparna Singh, Mahima Satsangi, Ruchi Arya, Praveen Parihar, Anil Kumar, Ashish Kathak, Vishal Chauhan and Mayank Gangani.

The music has been set by Pt Madho Prasad and the late Pt Jwala Prasad, while the choreography is by the Asavari Repertory. Sandhya Raman has designed the scenography, sets and costumes, with art by Anuj Prasad, sets by Team Desmania, lighting by Sandeep Dutta, and photography and videography by Innee Singh.

The production unfolds in four acts. Lament of the Azure addresses the pollution of rivers and seas and the damage caused by plastic, fishing nets and microplastics. Dishantar examines deforestation alongside exploitation, inequality and the marginalisation of women. Echoes in the Void turns to space debris and humanity’s growing footprint beyond Earth, while the final act, Restoring Nature’s Harmony, focuses on healing, collective action and clean energy.

A foyer exhibition curated by Kishore Labar will accompany the performance, featuring works by visual artists Manju Narain, Bishwaranja Bhunia, Nisha Kumari, Darshan Sharma and Riena A Jain.

Narayan said the production seeks to engage with environmental concerns through dance while also looking beyond loss towards renewal and the responsibility to restore balance.

The evening brings together classical dance, music, visual art and stagecraft to examine the consequences of environmental disruption and the possibility of rebuilding a more sustainable relationship with nature.

When: September 10; 7 PM onwards

Where: Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi