Savera: The Awakening
"Savera: The Awakening" is a neo-classical Kathak dance work that reinterprets classical movements through an innovative lens. Set to instrumental music incorporating Indian percussion rhythms, pakhawaj, tabla, bamboo flute, and acoustic guitar, among others, the piece considers the transition to daybreak (“savera”) as a metaphor for transcending the inner and outer turmoil of the mind, and realizing a state of peace, hope, and renewal.
Palak Dhiman
Palak Dhiman (she/her) is an independent dance artist, choreographer, and educator trained in Kathak, training in the art form since 1993. She practices her art and its related forms in Vancouver, B.C., on the unceded, ancestral and traditional territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations. She has participated in numerous stage productions, with Manohar Performing Arts in Winnipeg (2006-2019) and Upasana in Ottawa (2016-2019), and toured across Canada in 4 cities with Usha Dance Ensemble in 2022. Academically engaged with dance, Palak completed her MA in Sociology in 2013, focusing on its role in identity formation. As an independent artist, Palak has received support from organizations such as Sampradaya Dance Creations, The Kabir Centre for the Arts, The City of Ottawa, Canada Council for the Arts, The National Arts Centre, Place des Arts, and New Works, among others. She has performed at numerous festivals across Canada, the US, India, and Nepal, and has taught Kathak dance in Winnipeg, Ottawa, Nepal, and currently in Vancouver. Palak's ongoing goal is to use dance as a medium to convey meaningful stories and ideas in dialogue with her audiences.
Photo Credit: FUZD Media
Details of Savera: The Awakening:
Year of creation: 2020
Choreographer: Usha Sharma and Palak Dhiman
Key collaborators:
Performer: Palak Dhiman
Choreographer(s): Usha Sharma, Palak Dhiman
Music: Used with permission from Manohar Performing Arts of Canada
Audience Type: Elementary, Youth, Families, Young adults, Adults, and Seniors
Length of work: 15-20 minutes
Preparation time required on site: 2 hour
Technical requirements required on-site: Sound System
Space required: 20’ x 15’ space. Open to various configurations of outdoor spaces and environments. Stone and smooth pavement are ideal for spins and footwork as the dance form is done barefooted.. For rough concrete or pavement, the artist will bring their own vinyl floor covering of 12 ft x 6.5 ft size. For grassy, rooty, or rocky floor, or steps, the artist will modify choreography site-specifically.
Availability: Available throughout the year in consideration of my teaching schedule. Increased availability during winter months (December, January) the Summer months (July and August). In touring this work throughout B.C., my aim is to garner interest and bring awareness of Kathak and Indian classical dance forms to the province of B.C., and to present Kathak in its innovative forms/potential as a starting point to create more opportunities for Indian classical dance forms to flourish in Canada.
Community Engagement
This work lends well to being paired with a participatory workshop called ‘Dance Together’ that invites audience members or workshop participants to first learn very basic Kathak movements, followed by moving together to the same music score, either before or after the performance.