THE HANGOVER REPORT – Aakash Odedra and Hu Shenyuan’s SAMSARA is a dreamlike exercise in symbiosis

Hu Shenyuan and Aakash Odedra in “Samsara” at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center (photo courtesy of Lincoln Center).

Capping off India Week of Lincoln Center’s Summer in the City were two performances of Aakash Odedra Company’s production of Samsara at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Performed by two dancers — Aakash Odedra and Hu Shenyuan — and set to captivating live music by three sensational musicians, the full length piece (which enjoyed its U.S. premiere with these performances) is a stylized spiritual journey towards enlightenment inspired by the 16th century Chinese literary work Journey to the West set in India and Central Asia.

Taking its cue from Buddhist philosophy, Samsara is, in essence, an hourlong progression through various obstacles and states of mind that limit our full potential. These challenges are represented in an elemental staging, complete with flowing sand and haunting metallic statues. As the piece unfolds, images emerge into and out of the darkness, as in a dream. In terms of the choreography, Samsara draws from the Indian folk dancing traditions of Bharatanatyam and Kathak, as well as martial arts and contemporary dance. Throw into the mix some Pilobolus-esque stage pictures, and the result is a seamlessly melded work that basks both in cultural specificities and a sort of timeless universality.

Odedra and Hu are extraordinary dancers, and they handily hold the audience’s rapt attention with their complimentary strengths as dancers — Odedra is rhythmic and forceful, while Hu is facile fluidity incarnate. Together, they create a unique physical vocabulary that’s hypnotizing. At first, their duet is combative, but eventually they start responding symbiotically to each other’s differences, creating kinetic calligraphy in the process — especially gorgeous when experienced in conjunction with Nicki Wells’ visceral, exotic score.

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SAMASARA
Dance
Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center
1 hour (without an intermission)
Closed

Categories: Dance

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