PuSh Festival 2024: because i love the diversity (this micro-attitude, we all have it)
With his semi-improvisational, trance-like movement renowned across the globe, Rakesh Sukesh explores racism, representation and their effects on body, mind and our relationship to art.
Date/Time: Jan 22 2024, 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Vancouver, Performance Works | Event calendar1218 Cartwright St
Tickets
Cost: $39.00
Find tickets: here
RAKESH SUKESH (INDIA/BELGIUM):
A random encounter with a camera on the streets of Tallinn, Estonia made choreographer and dancer Rakesh Sukesh a momentary poster boy for a right wing news channel’s campaign against immigration from Asia and Africa.
What happens to his body when it is rendered into a viral, racist symbol? How does it affect him, and his relationship to the mostly white, deeply loving artists and students he works with?
In because i love the diversity (this micro-attitude, we all have it), Rakesh tells the story of his own journey through the powerful semi-improvisational, trance-like movement technique that makes him such an in-demand teacher across the world.
What does it mean to make a performance about this for an art festival, which is part of a scene that has only very recently begun to show interest in his work, precisely because of the kind of racism he encountered in Tallinn?
Artist Bio:
Born in Kerala, India, Rakesh was introduced to yogic principles and practices early on, setting the stage for his transformative journey. Dance unexpectedly entered his life at the age of 15 when he began as a Bollywood dancer in local productions. In 2003, Rakesh joined Attakkalari India, marking a significant shift in his trajectory. In 2014, he became a certified yoga teacher through the esteemed Shivananda Vedanta Centre, a step that deepened his understanding of movement and holistic well-being.
Over the past 14 years, Rakesh has dedicated himself to researching a movement method known as the IntAct-Method. This practical fusion of Kalarippayattu, contemporary movement, and yogic philosophy has gained recognition in reputable institutions worldwide. Rakesh has taken a hands-on approach in creating over thirteen dance pieces, each with its own distinct purpose. Currently, his focus is on developing a solo performance because i love the diversity (this micro attitude, we all have it), scheduled to debut at the PuSh Festival in 2024. In 2020, Rakesh co-founded and assumed a leadership role at Sanskar, a global performing arts platform. This pragmatic initiative aims to foster growth and collaboration, especially in India and abroad.
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