Rooted in Gesture by Kalpanarts

In this workshop, participants explore the expressive power of rhythm and gesture within the hybrid movement language of Kalpanarts. Rooted in Indian dance traditions such as Bharatanatyam and Kathak, the session shows how rhythm, movement and traditional hand gestures (mudras) can become a language for emotion, imagination and connection. No prior dance experience is required — curiosity is enough.

By embodying rhythmic patterns through movement, you experience a unique dialogue between body and mind. You’ll also learn a selection of traditional hand gestures (mudras) and discover how these gestures can communicate emotions, ideas and stories without words.

Reflect on your own forms of expression and explore how rooted traditions can become a source of creativity and expression.

Kalpanarts, led by choreographer and cultural anthropologist Kalpana Raghuraman, blends Indian classical dance with contemporary and urban forms to explore identity, connection and cultural equity through rhythm and storytelling. Kalpanarts is a contemporary dance company led by choreographer and cultural anthropologist Kalpana Raghuraman. Rooted in Indian dance traditions and informed by contemporary and urban dance forms, the company develops a unique hybrid movement language that explores identity, connection and cultural equity through rhythm, movement and storytelling.

“Rooting is highly relevant to our practice because it lies at the heart of how we create. At Kalpanarts, we work from the belief that innovation becomes meaningful when it is connected to where we come from. (…) For us, rooting is not about preserving tradition unchanged. It is about understanding where knowledge, movement and stories originate, and allowing them to evolve through dialogue, encounter and lived experience. As artists working across cultures, we are constantly exploring the relationship between heritage and change, between belonging and becoming,” according to Laila.

She adds: “On a personal level, rooting is connected to questions of identity, ancestry and cultural memory. It is a way of staying connected to histories and practices that came before us, while creating space for new voices and perspectives. Through movement, rhythm and gesture, we explore how traditions can remain alive, relevant and in conversation with the present.“