“As You Are” is a transformative performance that merges traditional Indian dance with modern storytelling, addressing themes of womanhood, trauma, and resilience through the lens of personal narratives.
What happens when a traditional art form meets modern storytelling? The answer unfolds in “As You Are,” a compelling performance produced by Shruti Abhishek Dance that bridges cultures, generations, and schools of thought. This innovative work features six Bharatnatyam dancers who intertwine Indian classical dance with contemporary theater, conveying deeply personal stories about womanhood, motherhood, caregiving, resilience, and the often-unspoken struggles faced by women.
The ensemble consists of three dancers born and raised in India and three from the United States. While they share a common foundation in Bharatanatyam, their diverse perspectives are shaped by their training under different teachers. Traditionally, Bharatanatyam has focused on mythological figures, gods, and goddesses. However, the dancers sought to expand this framework to explore urgent, modern narratives. The vision for the performance was guided by director Vaibhav Arekar, who encouraged the group to consider how these stories could be expressed through different bodies.
In pursuit of relevant narratives, the group partnered with Narika, a nonprofit organization in the Bay Area that supports survivors of domestic abuse. This collaboration was made possible through a grant that required the dancers to align with an organization that shared their values and beliefs. The dancers underwent training to engage sensitively with participants who had experienced trauma and conducted workshops that formed the heart of their creative process. These workshops included dancing, singing, and even puppet-making.
“We don’t want to know what your story is. You don’t have to talk about it to us,” the dancers communicated to the participants. “We’ll just explore. We’ll just creatively do things.” Although sharing personal stories was never a requirement, many participants chose to express their narratives indirectly through art. A particularly poignant moment occurred during a puppet-making session, where participants conveyed their experiences through the figures they created.
The performance weaves together reflections on the societal expectations placed on women, the burdens of motherhood, the relentless demands of caregiving, and the lasting effects of childhood abuse and domestic violence. Shruti Abhishek explained that the structure of the show was designed to allow the audience to process the various stories presented.
<p“There were so many different stories, we were very careful about when we wanted to give the audience a chance to breathe and bring themselves into the work,” Abhishek noted. “Only if there are gaps, only if there are pauses, only if there are silences is when you all—the audience—would come into the scene or just heave a sigh of relief or just chuckle with us, especially if there had been a scene before it that was uncomfortable or serious.”
The performance featured several poignant scenes, including a “mirror scene” that explored body image and self-perception. “We are looking into our own image,” Abhishek explained. “Oh, you love yourself, but there are things that you still don’t. It’s a hint of body image because that was the next scene that we were getting into.” This scene highlighted the societal pressures women face regarding their appearance, prompting reflections on self-acceptance.
Another notable piece depicted the juggling act of motherhood, portrayed by dancer Rasika Kumar. She illustrated the constant balancing of grocery lists, meal planning, and other responsibilities through a dynamic performance that incorporated props and music created by her fellow dancers. This scene evolved into an absurd dance that resonated with the audience, showcasing the chaos and beauty of motherhood.
In addition to personal narratives, the performance addressed broader societal issues, including the concept of mob mentality. “It’s not just about one narrative,” Abhishek remarked. “The mob mentality just shifts, and it has so many perspectives.” This exploration of collective behavior added depth to the performance, encouraging the audience to reflect on their own experiences and societal roles.
The group expressed a desire to connect with more organizations that share values similar to Narika’s to build further collaborations. “I think these stories are important. These stories need to be shared,” Abhishek emphasized. She noted how many scenes from the show resonated with the audience, highlighting the commonality of these experiences. “People just want to know that all these things happen to everyone, and because it’s so common, I can talk about it.”
Through this work, Abhishek aims to reach as many people as possible, particularly men, to foster understanding and healing. “I think through that, we heal,” she concluded.
Source: Original article