Kolkata hosted the sixth edition of the Dance Bridges Festival from August 20 to 24, bringing together contemporary dance artists from India and abroad to explore identity, experiences and cultural intersections. Curated by artistic director Vanessa Mirza (UK/India), the festival featured performances, workshops, talks, a residency, film screenings and a dance jam across city venues. The opening at Gyan Manch featured Alleo by Spain’s Colectivo Glovo, We Are Not Beautiful by UK-based Laura Kenyon, Waiting Music by Dom Czapski (UK) and Meeting Point by Taiwan’s Chen Yu-Chi. Themed Converging Identities, it featured artistes from Spain, France, Italy, Canada, India, the UK, Taiwan and Brazil.
Dance as a cultural bridge Speaking about the theme, Mirza said ‘Converging Identities’ reflected the festival’s focus on bringing cultures and people together and resonated with Kolkata. Reflecting on identity and commonality is really important in our current times,” she said. Meeting of artistic voices The residency project culminated in performances of works developed by artists from India, Bangladesh and Denmark under the guidance of Chen Yu-Chi and Laura Kenyon. Programme featured documentaries from France and India and dance shorts from Cyprus, Ukraine and Italy. Artist showcases from Indian cities, along with pitches from Nigeria and Tunisia, were part of the festival. Events were held at venues including Alliance Française du Bengale, International Management Institute, Anuchintan Art Centre, Studio Cocoon, Pathshala Dance Academy, Rajya Sangeet Academy, Red Bari, The Creative Arts Academy and Urban Theatre Project. “I love that Dance Bridges Festival carries an intention to listen, share and understand different cultures and people from across the globe. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day.
