Hippodrome presents new dance work
Following its UK premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival in August, Aakash Odedra Company 's new dance work Samsara, choreographed and performed by Birmingham-born dancer Aakash Odedra and Hu Shenyuan, arrives at Birmingham Hippodrome on Sunday, 23 October at the end of its UK tour.
Samsara is a collaboration between Odedra and Shenyuan, known as two of the world 's finest exponents of dance from their countries of origin; India and China. Odedra has attracted global attention for his virtuoso Kathak performances and his contemporary choreography.
Shenyuan was the standout performer in Yang Liping 's Under Siege in 2016 - when Odedra first saw him and decided he wanted to work with him. The pair met in Shanghai in 2017 and with no mutual spoken language, went on to create Samsara.
Samsara takes place in a desert landscape peopled with human statues, created by set designer, Tina Tzoka. Yaron Abulafia 's lighting conjures a mythic world which the two dancers, Odedra and Shenyuan, enter and explore.
Eventually they come together in a series of virtuoso duets of challenge, reflection and exchange. Mongolian throat singing and traditional Chinese percussion are part of the score, specially commissioned from Odedra 's regular collaborator, Nicki Wells.
Odedra said: “It is an honour to return to the Hippodrome on the main stage with our new production, Samsara. As an associate artist, to be able to share my dream project with the city I was born in is a special moment. Every big dream has a silent hand behind it and as the commissioning partner of this venture, Birmingham Hippodrome has helped make my dream into a reality. ”
The work takes as its starting point Wu Cheng'en 's 16th century Chinese novel 'Journey to the West '. It tells the story of the legendary pilgrimage to India undertaken by the monk Xuanzang, returning to China with the central tracts of Buddhist philosophy.
Samsara has been made possible by the generous support of the Bagri Foundation, a family foundation dedicated to promoting the arts and culture of Asia. Aiming to challenge, engage and inspire, it gives artists and experts from across Asia, or those inspired by the continent, wider visibility on the global stage and supports a diverse programme of film, visual arts, music, dance, literature, courses and lectures.
Samsara is at Birmingham Hippodrome for one night only on Sunday 23 October. Tickets can be booked at Birminghamhippodrome.com or by calling 0844 338 5000*