MAINSTAGE 2026-27
Anuranana- Resonance
Anuranana (Resonance) is a Bharatanatyam and Kathak double bill performance by Arno Kamolika and Akshaya Surve, that maps the dancer's sensory awakening to nature. Capturing a living dialogue between Bharatanatyam and Kathak, it takes the audience on a journey from traditional repertoire to contemporary exploration of these forms. We start with the ritual of anchoring to Mother Earth with Namaskaram. From this grounded stillness emerge subtle, foundational movements that mirror the universal elements of wind, water, and sunlight.
The brief invocation is followed by three 20 minutes choreographic piece, each sharing a deep relationship with nature. The first piece is a Saraswathi Vandana, performed by Akshaya, an invocation in Kathak dedicated to the goddess, who represents the flow of knowledge, creativity, and consciousness, just like an ever-moving river that nourishes the earth. She sits on a white lotus with a swan by her side. She holds the Veena, symbolizing the harmony, rhythms, and vibrations of nature and the universe.
The second piece is a Bharatnatyam Varnam performed by Arno. It weaves together rhythmic dance sequences and expressive storytelling to convey deep emotion, exploring themes of longing. The yearning of the individual soul is frequently compared to nature's elements - the blooming flowers or the singing of the cuckoo bird are used to contrast the joyful state of nature with the melancholic longing of the protagonist.
The final segment is a duet piece, named Lotus and the Bee inspired by poetry of Rabindranath Tagore. As the sharp geometric lines of Bharatanatyam ripple into the fluid, lightning-fast spins of Kathak, the piece culminates in a dynamic Jugalbandi (rhythmic conversation). This closing rhythmic exchange becomes an exploration of nature's endless transformations— from the flight of bees to the opening of flowers—blending both forms into a singular cosmic echo.
Arno Kamolika and Akshaya Surve
photo credit Chris Randle
TRAILER
ARTIST BIO
Arno Kamolika and Akshaya Surve are dance artists, choreographers, and instructors based in BC. They practice Bharatanatyam and Kathak respectively—two very distinct styles of dance, each known for it’s unique aesthetic, each with its own complex history and tradition. Their work explores the interplay between these two forms of dance,blending stillness and movement from both, in a meaningful and rhythm-based dialogue.
Deeply rooted in the classical language of Bharatnatyam and inspired by the mystic rhythms of her Bengali heritage, Arno’s performances weave music and movement into stories that transcend cultures and time. Shyama (2015). Parasakti (2021) and Skydancers (2024) were her recent productions and she was cast member of Svaha by Nova Dance. Akshaya Surve is a Kathak performer and choreographer with over 20 years of training. Her work has taken her across India, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Qatar, and Oman. Her recent performances include major festivals such as Vasantotsav, Surrey Fusion Festival, and Namaste Canada and a new work Draupadi, at The Dance Centre’s 12 Minutes Max.
Arno and Akshay have been collaborating for past one year, and have shared their work at Festival of Lights by Diwali Fest, 12 minutes max by The Dance Centre and All over the Map by New Works. Their collaboration seeks to tell stories that effectively convey the emotional depth of longing through rich sensory imagery we see in nature and encourages meaningful engagement between artists who are informed by the rich nuances of South Asian dance, poetry and music traditions.
Performance History & Upcoming Performances
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Project Created by: Arno Kamolika and Akshaya Surve
Key Artistic Collaborators: Choreography and performance: Arno Kamolika and Akshaya Surve
Music for Lotus and the Bee is directed by Shankhanaad Mallick
Lighting designer: Tory Ip
Performance type: THIS WORK IS BUILT FOR THEATRE, THIS WORK IS ADAPTABLE TO THEATRE OR OUTDOORS OR ALTERNATE VENUES /SPACES
How do you define this work: Dance Genre: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, South Asian Dance, Indian Classical dance, Multi-Discipline.
Length of performance: 65
Audience type: General Audience ,Children/Family
Number of Performers on tour (including choreographer): 2
Number of Support Staff on Tour: 0
Availabilities: 2027 Spring Season (Mar - June),2027/28 Season,2028/29 Season
Project Details
General Technical Requirements: Dance floor: Marley/hard wood would be preferred, as the dance is performed bare foot. But the dancers are also open to perform in paved areas, or grass).
Audio: High-quality Stereo PA system with a playback connection (Laptop/iPad 3.5mm jack or XLR connection at the sound console).
Alternatively: This work can also be adapted to be performed with live music. In that case we will have four musicians traveling with us - two vocalist, one percussionist, and one string instrumentalist. We will require the following:
4 mics (2 Sm-58 and 2 Sm-57 or equivalent)
4 adjustable floor mic stands
one cable (stage left) to plug iPhone
power strip
stage monitors (atleast 3-4) (2 for musicians and 2 for dancers)
Required amount of time for tech set up: For a performance with recorded music we can work with 2 hours to set up light cues. In an outdoor location we can perform with an half an hour tech time for a soundcheck.
For a performance with live music we will need 3-5 hours of setup time (depending on the venue) to do sound setup, sound check and lighting.
Alternative Venues: We are interested to present this work in unconventional outdoor spaces - for example - inside a forest or besides a creek, where the space is limited. We will need to adapt our choreography to accommodate that particular scenario. The ideal space for exploring the footwork would be a sprung dance floor. But we have performed it on concrete floor as well, and we can adapt it to dance on grass.
We are interested to take this work to places where people have not seen much of Indian classical dance, so that they can enjoy the complexity that exists within the South Asian dance forms. We are interested to perform in intimate settings (library, museums, community spaces), black box theatres as well as big theatres and open public spaces.
Community Engagement
We are also interested in working with artists from other art form – specially music and visual art. We are both trained in rhythm and music, and we are interested to create choreography on experimental music. We can work with percussionists (any kind of drum or cymbals) and musicians to create rhythmic patterns. We can also provide workshop on Nattuvangham and Padhan, which is the art of rhythmic recitation, to anyone interested in music and rhythm. We can also invite musicians who are our collaborators to be part of these community engagements.
Outreach Activities
Both of us offer dance classes to different age group and levels – from beginner to advanced. We can provide introductory workshops to adults and kids on storytelling through Bharatnatyam and Kathak, which are two different South Asian style of dance. The workshop will include learning basic steps of the dance forms and hand gestures (mudras) to show different elements of nature and how to create a story with those gestures with steps and music. We also offers workshops on nattuvangham, which is the art of rhythmic recitation with playing cymbals.
The workshops for beginner level participants can be 1 to 2 hours. For dancers or musicians we can provide full day workshop or 2 days workshop 5-6 hours each day.