Bhu/Earth: A dance theatre show inspired by Kalaripayattu

A choreographer herself, Anu described Bhu as “a powerful work that brings together Kalari, aboriginal, tai chi and Kathakali vocabularies with extraordinary grace, perfection and depth of experience.” I watched Bhu under the stars at the open performance-space at Kalarigram. It seemed a perfect setting for this theatrical dance that described itself as “the journey of a man looking for connection with himself and Nature.”

I was enthralled by the dexterity, the strength, the suppleness and grace of the Kalari dancers. Kalaripayattu from Kerala is regarded as the oldest martial art of the world, and as with all martial arts, it is the single-pointed focus of the performer - that delicate balance of motion and stillness, of strength and restraint – which holds one in thrall. Combined with this were some elements that could be attributed to Australian aboriginal performances and recorded Sanskrit chants. Holding all these diverse cultural threads together was a simple plot of a strong, angry young man who discovers an even greater strength by regaining his essential connection to the universe. Through successive encounters with an old Kalari master, the young man is reminded of his integral connection to earth, air, water, and spirit. The costume of the young man, a costume that he theatrically discards at the end, leads one to also interpret the play as an allegory of the modern man’s disconnect with nature.

The only thing that jarred for me was the narration, which seemed to be an add-on rather than an integral element of the performance. For me, the narrative was a bit too simplistic. As the saying goes, “the script told more than it showed.” A more subtle script would have integrated itself better with this elegant performance.