An Evening with Astad is a biographical dance that retells histories that have not yet been written. The piece focuses on the experimental 1970s – 80s solos of Astad Deboo, a pioneer of contemporary Indian dance who just turned 70 and whose career spans almost fifty years and five continents. On stage with Deboo, Rani Nair takes on the role of archivist and biographer, cataloguing Deboo’s choreography and stories, and finding new ways to share those with an audience. Deboo explains that technology and money meant his earlier work was never recorded, but “now Rani turns the clock back and ...it’s amazing to see how much the body remembers.” The relational duet form of An Evening with Astad offers a new point of access to this formidable artist — not just the what of a life story, but the who. What results is not only a biography of Deboo himself, but also a personal, intergenerational chronicle of contemporary Indian dance, one that time travels both backward and into the future.
Artistic team
Rani Nair: Concept and performer
Astad Deboo: Performer
Kate Elswit: Dramaturg/Historian
Josefin Hinders: Light design
Samar Jabri : Sound consultant
Cecilia Höglund: Graphic design
Kubkub: Visuals
Malena Sjöstedt: Production
Supported by:
Swedish Arts Council
The International Dance Programme/The Swedish Arts Grants Committee
Lunds Kommun
Stenkrossen
Region Skåne
Developed with support from and during residencies/platforms at:
LICA – Lund International Choreography Assembly, Skånes Dansteater, Plattform för ny dans – Dansstationen, Indian Embassy Stockholm, Gati dance studio Delhi, Adishakti Theatre Laboratory Pondicherri, Symposium Dance & Migration Linz, Milvus Artistic Research Centre, Inter Arts Centre
raninair.se
