About Rekha Tandon
The Turning Point
From as early as I can remember, there was always the magical possibility of discovering a sense of Presence while dancing. This was heightened with my introduction to Odissi’s movement vocabulary, performed to its melodic and rhythmic phrases. It soon became my portal into an ephemeral space where I could commune with my favourite deities, especially Krishna, and participate in his pastimes…
Kinetic movement within Odissi’s parameters of postures, gestures, mudras and glances served as a way of speaking and giving expression to the yearning for a ‘missing-wholeness’, which I always seemed to have in my mundane reality. Needless to say, the desire to master every possible aspect of Odissi kept growing; I just had to understand the curious nature of this dancing body I inhabited.
After 17 years of rigorous immersion as a shishya in the Odissi parampara in New Delhi and Odisha, I went to Laban, London in 1994 for a PhD in Dance Studies. My quest filtered through the requirements of academia, leading me to explore the common ground between classical and contemporary values in dance practice, encompassing embodiment, performance, choreography, and teaching. The solo performances and group productions created subsequently, were presented at many places and festivals in different parts of the world, but always retained this essential focus.
Dance Routes…
In 1997 I married and co-founded Dance Routes with Michael Weston, and we went to live in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. He became a constant collaborator on projects thereafter, bringing his gifts of patience, meticulousness and his passion for music to our collective consciousness.
Living close to the Raja Rani Temple in the heart of Bhubaneswar’s Old Town, we had the privilege of visiting ancient temples around us at different times of the day, catching sunsets, sunrises, local festivals, and witnessing the profound faith and devotion of our neighbours, acquaintances and strangers for thirteen years. My MA thesis in History of Art, exploring Odissi’s usage of temple sculpture as a resource for choreography was first co-scripted with him for a video-documentary during these sojourns. It was subsequently published as a book of photos with text entitled ‘Odissi-A Dance of Sculpture’ commissioned by Odisha Tourism, Govt. of Odisha.
As the company’s Artistic Director, I choreographed and directed several productions with dancers from the Gotipua tradition around Puri between 2005-2015, while Michael created the audio-visual accompaniment for these with Pattachitra painters, Odissi musicians, natural sounds and ritual chants from our environment.
Dance as Yoga…
Meanwhile, in my personal studio work, I kept exploring the practical applications of the tantric and yogic body map in the embodiment of Odissi movement, using references to yoga-sadhana practices from the books published by the Bihar School of Yoga. My first article on the subject was published in 2008 by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Narivada Series. The book Dance as Yoga – The Spirit and Technique of Odissi written after my PhD at Laban took this discussion forward, as has a more recent article, The 3 Bindu Approach to Embodying Sacred Geometry. It remains an ongoing exploration at my studio-residence Skandavan beside Auroville in Tamil Nadu, now with reference to Sri Vidya and Vedic chanting, which entered my life more recently some years ago.
I feel blessed to have a student community in Auroville who share this interest in my immediate environment. Now also, in an online practice-space, with dedicated individuals from different countries who have experienced the body as a portal to self-knowledge through Odissi, and want to keep in touch with this when not physically together.
CV
PhD Dance Studies, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London 2005
MA History of Art, National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology, National Museum, New Delhi, 1995
BA Architecture, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi 1985
Guru Trinath Maharana (1993-1997)
Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (intermittently 1985-2002)
Padmashree Madhavi Mudgal (1982-1990)
Guru SN Jena (1975-1981)
Informal, continuous self-study with different teachers and systems from 1978 till present time.
Certified as yoga teacher from the Bihar School of Yoga (2002).
Also trained in Kriya Yoga as taught by the Bihar School of Yoga (2003).
Regularly practicing Self-enquiry and Vipassana since 2005.
Acquainted with Pranic Healing, Reiki, Qi Gong and Hypnotherapy through workshops.
Lecture/Demonstrations
2024 Odissi’s Shakta Legacy, Tantrotsava, Kalarigram, Auroville Bio-region, Tamil Nadu
2023 Embodiment and Choreography in the Language of Odissi, Natya Vriksha World Dance Day, India International Centre, New Delhi
2023 Introduction to Indian Dance and Yoga, The Yoga Gallery, Menorca, Spain
2023 Presentation of Choreography work-in-progress with Sonia St. Michel and Julie Beaulieu, Universite du Quebec, Montreal, Canada.
Dance as Yoga, Attakalari Centre for Movement Arts, Bangalore
Chandigarh University
2011 Matter Precipitates, Bharat Nivas, Auroville
2010 Dance Platform, Gati, Max Mueller Bhavan and Prohelvetia, New Delhi
2009 New-Orientations, 2009 University of Halle, Germany
2008 On the Silk Route of Gestures, University School of Pedagogy and Philosophy, Krakow, Poland
2005 Postcolonial Identity Construction in South Asian Music and Dance, The School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), Arts & Humanities Research Board (AHRB), London, UK
2003 New Creativity: Somatic & Creative Practices in Dance Education, Laban Centre for Movement and Dance, London, UK
Odissi Performances (Solo)
2023 YogaGallery Menorca, Spain
2020 Pondicherry Heritage Festival, Pondicherry
2014 Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai
2012 The National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
The National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australia
2011 Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Bharat Nivas, Auroville
2009 Neu-Orientations-Ieurungen, Halle, Germany
2008 Delhi International Arts Festival, New Delhi
Tanz Ortam Gleis, Winterthur, Switzerland
Anthropology of Dance Festival, Krakow, Poland
2007 National Festival of Odissi Dance & Music, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
The Lowry, Manchester, UK
2006 Centre for Performance Research, Wales, UK
Conference on Hypnotherapy, Tivoli Gardens, New Delhi
2005 Mandapa Centre, Paris, France
HCL Concert, Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
2004 Sanskriti Kendra, Anandgram, New Delhi
Centre for Performance Research, Aberystwyth, Wales
1999 British Council, New Delhi
Raghurajpur Basant Utsav, Odisha
1998 Sangeet Natak Nrutyaparva, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
1997 Performance tour: Johannesburg, Durban and Blomfontein, South Africa
1995 Royal Festival Hall, London (accompanied Madhavi Mudgal and Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra)
1994 Guwahati, Assam
1993 Performance tour: Hennbont, Lorient and Vannes, France
1992 Yuva Mahotsava, New Delhi.
Performance tour: accompanied Madhavi Mudgal Sao Paolo, Brazil.
1989 Performance tour: Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan
1988 NORAD Performance tour: Oslo, Bergen and Tromso, Norway
1987 Ashoka Convention Hall, New Delhi
1985 Performance tour: Universities in Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Princeton, USA
Odissi (Group Choreography with Solo Performance)
2024 CRIPA with Auroville amateur Odissi group
2015 Bharat Nivas, Auroville with Dance Routes Repertory Group
India International Centre, New Delhi
2013 Kirloskar Wedding, Pune (Private Commission)
Bharat Nivas, Auroville
2011 Bharat Nivas, Auroville
TVS Wedding, Chennai (Private Commission)
Ashram Theatre, Pondicherry
2010 Chatrapati Shivaji MVS Museum, Mumbai
Mittal Wedding, Grand Hyatt, Mumbai (Private Commission)
2009 Kirloskar Wedding, Pune (Private Commission)
HCL Concert, Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
2008 Virasat Festival, Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand
2007 The Park’s New Festival, Chennai
Federalism Event, Rajpath, New Delhi
Dance City, Newcastle, UK
Quay Theatre, The Lowry, Manchester, UK
Nehru Centre, London, UK
House of World Cultures, Berlin, Germany
2006 Sanskriti Kendra, Anandgram, New Delhi
Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata
Alliance Francaise, New Delhi
2005 Raghurajpur Basant Utsav, Odisha
2003 International Conference, Shakti Rising, IGNCA, New Delhi
Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Ministry of Culture Govt. of India, Cultural Functions Grant Scheme, 2010
Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi 2007
Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkota 2006
Ford Foundation 2005
INTACH Intangible Heritage 2005-2007
UNESCO Artist’s Bursary Award 1996
Charles Wallace Arts Fellowship UK 1995.