“Narasimha—ManLion,” a mythological queering of an eighth century poem will transcend into an experimental Indian dance. It will be part of a two-week programmed performances where six artists from diverse practices and unique perspectives will push the comfort zone and take us to the Fringe.
Raina Peterson, a dancer-choreographer of Fiji-Indian and English heritage who was born and raised on the lands of the Gunaikurnai people, will present “Narasimha-ManLion” as their new solo work on week two. It has been commissioned by Melbourne Fringe’s Radical Access Program in partnership with Arts Access Victoria.
“Narasimha—ManLion” draws inspiration from Tamil Poet-Saint Andal’s devotional poem which explores Narasimha: the fierce Hindu deity associated with the liminal and the in-between. It combines blood and honey, flowers and entrails.
Raina draws on their training in classical Indian dance (Mohiniyattam) to create a work which oscillates between the violence of Narasimha’s imagery and the sensuality of Andal’s poetry. “Narasimha—ManLion’ is part one of a triptych queering classical Indian dance from the perspective of a transgender Hindu.”
“Temperance Hall gives license to thrill in this year’s Melbourne Fringe. A queerordinary solo by choreographer, Raina Peterson offers a fierce commentary on gender through hyper-queer myth making,” says Phillip Adams, Artistic Director Temperance Hall.
Raina creates moving experimental dance works that respect and challenge both traditional and contemporary dance. With a substantial body of new work including five company productions, Raina‘s works draw on their training in Mohiniyattam, classical Indian dance of Kerala, and are critically acclaimed for their subversive and visceral approach to exploring the diasporic experience, cultural identity, colonialism, gender diversity and sexuality.
Their full-length works with dance partner Govind Pillai include ‘In Plain Sanskrit’ (2015, FCAC), ‘Bent Bollywood’ (2018, Midsumma Festival, shortlisted for a National Dance Award), ‘Third Nature’ (2019, Arts House), ‘Kāla’ (2019, Due West Festival) and award-winning dance film ‘Drishti’ (2020, winner of two Fringe Awards: ‘Best dance and physical theatre’ and ‘Innovation’ in culturally diverse practice).
MELBOURNE FRINGE AT TEMPERANCE HALL, WEEK TWO
- Dates: Wed 19 Oct to Sat 22 Oct
- Full program information click here
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“Narasimha—ManLion,” a mythological queering of an 8th century poem will transcend into an experimental #Indiandance. It will be part of a 2-week programmed performances with 6 artists from diverse practices. #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/JFg0wAtRis
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