UMA (2006-2019) — indance

UMA, an exploration of gender and identity and is a tongue-in-cheek, contemporary tribute to the rich tradition of Stri-Vesham (female impersonation), in South India. Inspired by the eroticism of Bharatanatyam, UMA oscillates between conventional and contemporary frames, representing idealized and radicalized images of woman as virgin, vamp, lover, mother, wife, mistress, a diva and the Devi (Goddess). As UMA cajoles the fluid, multiple aesthetic dimensions of the sacred and the banal, she flirts with and revels in 'owning' the transgressive, translucent 'masks' she wears with pride. UMA has lived many lives since 2006, with several international artists having channeled her. In each ‘life’, she adapts herself to encapsulate the dancer’s personality, skill set and their affinity for particular iterations of gender and sexuality.

Choreography: Hari Krishnan

Dancers: Mesma Belsare (2006), Kali Chandrasegaram (2010), Srikanth Natarajan (2013) and Sujit Vaidya (2019)

Musicians: Hari Krishnan (cymbals/vocals), Vidya Natarajan (cymbals/voice), Sheela Bharath (vocals), Susha (vocals), Varaki Wijayaraj (vocals), Kajan Pararasasegaram (percussion), Thanathevy Mithratheva (violin) and Ajanthie Madanakaran (flute)

Narration: Katherine Duncanson (2006 and 2010), Apsara Reddy (2013), and Morgan Doctor (2014)

Lighting Design: Arun Srinivasan (2006, 2010), Victor Paulraj (2013) and Jack Carr (2019)

Costume Design: Rex (Rajavairan Rajendran)

Premiere: June 8-10, 2006 at the Enwave Theatre as part of Can-Asian’s Gender Transformations

Festival (Toronto, Canada)

Uma was also performed on October 28, 2007 at the Lincoln Theater as part of Dakshina’s Dance Festival (Washington DC, USA), at the Metropolitan Public Library Theatre as part of the Engendered Festival (New York City, USA); on July 24, 2010 as part of The Hat Factory’s dance season (Luton, UK); on December 22, 2013 at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Theatre as part of the Purush Global Dancing Male International Festival (Chennai, India); on March 14, 2014 as part of Kalanidhi’s International Dance Festival at the Fleck Dance Theater (Toronto, Canada); March 15, 2018 at the Dancemakers Theatre as part of the Myseum Intersections Festival (Toronto, Canada); from April 26-27, 2019 at Wesleyan University’s CFA Theater (Middletown, CT, USA) and from May 11-12, 2019 at the Ellen Stewart Theatre, as part of La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival (New York City, USA)