A REVITALIZING RITUAL

 Svaha! is a celebration of dance as a revitalizing ritual that brings us closer together. Inspired by women and the act of gathering, the work is an oblation of movement, music, colours and sensations.

Created by award-winning choreographer Nova Bhattacharya, Svaha! embodies the transformative power of dance, expressing the uniqueness of the individual and the value of community. A Sanskrit exclamation used when making offerings, Svaha! asks ,“How can we be better together?”

After a two-year delay due to COVID-19, Svaha! will make its long-awaited world premiere in Toronto at the Bluma Appel Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, on September 16 and 17 at 8 pm and September 18 at 2 pm.

Joining Bhattacharya onstage is a cast of 20 women whose practices reflect a diversity of dance forms. Svaha! also features original composition and musical direction by Ed Hanley, live accompaniment by Ed Hanley and Gurtej Hunjan, lighting design by Simon Rossiter and costumes by Sage Paul.

“I have always been fascinated by seeing differences on stage – different dancers interpreting the same intentions and different body types mastering the same movement material,” says Bhattacharya. “This fascination has manifested itself in the casting of artistes whose technical training and cultural perspectives are different from my own, alongside those with whom I have steps and stories in common.”

Dancers, musicians, and designers were led by Bhattacharya to continue working on the piece throughout the pandemic, with sporadic creation phases and rehearsals often taking place online. The ritual of gathering became a life-giving element for Bhattacharya and the artistes, transforming Svaha! as the pandemic transformed us all.

TO Live Vice-President of Programming Josephine Ridge says, “TO Live’s involvement with Svaha! dates to 2018 and stretches from concept to presentation. After the pandemic caused its postponement, when restrictions allowed, the company continued to create and rehearse in our studios. Svaha! is a key part of TO Live’s Fall season and an event to which all Toronto can look forward. The opening on September 16 will mark the culmination of years of creative endeavour and we are exceptionally proud to be presenting Svaha!, a world premiere from Toronto’s own Nova Bhattacharya.”

Produced by Nova Dance in partnership with Citadel + Compagnie, with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund, TO Live, Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Metcalf Foundation, Ontario Arts Council, DanceHouse, Indian Summer Music Festival, Simon Fraser University, The National Ballet of Canada’s Open Space Program and The Theatre Centre.

Founded by Nova Bhattacharya in 2008, Nova Dance brings new ideas to dance, reinventing the possibilities of the art.

The company breaks down conventions and encourages new talent with the best and most exciting in performance the world over. Nova Dance works with artistes from many art forms and a multitude of backgrounds to create a community that celebrates the life-force of dance in our lives.

TO Live is one of Canada’s largest multi-arts organizations, operating three iconic venues: Meridian Hall, the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and Meridian Arts Centre. In addition, TO Live presents a full range of performing arts, theatrical and concert events at these venues in both downtown and uptown Toronto. With these two hubs of creativity and content creation, TO Live has a unique place and perspective to activate creative spaces by inspiring local and international artists, connect audiences and to be the nexus for new ideas, elevate artistic potential, and be the catalyst for creative expression that is reflective of Toronto’s diversity.

More info at www.novadance.ca.

WHEN AND WHERE

Sept.16-18 at the Bluma Appel Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.  Single tickets: $40 - $105. Call 416-366-7723 and 1-800-708-6754, email at boxoffice@tolive.com or visit www.tolive.com.