Dancer Jacob Boehme writes about his experience in New Delhi India where he is undertaking an Asialink Residency with Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust.
19/04/2010 Day 34 Asialink Residency with Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust, New Delhi India, supported by Australia/India High Commission
Have taken to wearing a bandana over my face for the 30 minute cylce through manic Delhi traffic from home (Katwaria Sarai) to work (Vasant Kunj). The industrial rush to finish the city before the Comm Games has created a dust monster that hovers and creeps through every visible and invisible corner and crack of this mammoth maze.
Finally made progress with the theatre troupe (5 young adults, once street kids, placed in employment/training program with Ishara) after 3 weeks of rather frustrating, challenging and confronting workshops, negotiations and compromises. We are now 1 week into the build of a new schools touring show that 3 of the members will perform. I have written a new piece incorporating 3 folkloric tales from 3 different states, to be built, rehearsed and ready to perform by the end of May, and all to be told through the magic of puppetry and dance.
My Lord Ganesha, how I wish I spoke Hindi!! A lot of ideas, possible solutions to troubleshooting, etc have been lost in translation which initially slowed down exploration, or rather, the handing over of what my 'brief' was (Somehow, after months of emails and negotiating, the plan for me to be hosted here as part of a collaborative team, has turned into me being posted as the director, writer, choreographer and designer). Vivec, a senior member of the company, has well developed English skills which has been a god send and he has been translating for me.
I've enrolled in Kathakali classes and have been taking 8am private classes every morning with a very enthusiastic and kind hearted trainer, Amaljith. He saw a short dvd of a work I did back in Melbourne, "Lu'arn", so he's now very keen to explore our 2 styles. Whilst Kathakali and Traditional Indigenous dance are very similar in that the form is influenced by narrative and story, the makeup is very different (a Kathakali dancer wears 25 kg of headdress on top of his 'paint up') and Amaljith now wants to make a show with a BIG body and my LITTLE painted up body. I've developed a fascination with classical mudras (hand gestures), they remind me of bush sign language. I'm now wondering whether by using these 2 forms, 2 people from 2 different countries would be able to communicate a story to each other and an audience?
Lu'arn,Yalukit Willam Ngargee / St Kilda Festival 2010
Image Credit: Bindi Cole
