Mathures Paul

Dance Routes’ choreographic works include pieces meant for performance as well as films By Mathures Paul Rekha Tandon, one of the foremost exponents of the Odissi, established Dance Routes in 1997 with help from Michael Weston, a musician and film-maker, for experimentation, research and education in Indian classical dance. She was initially under the guidance of SN Jena, and subsequently under Shrimati Madhavi Mudgal, Guru Trinath Maharana and Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Tandon was part of Madhavi Mudgal’s dance company between 1985 and 1992. Dance Routes’ choreographic works have included pieces created for both performance and film, using multicultural literary and musical resources, which retain the criteria of dance being used as a means of dialogue with divinity. Educational initiatives have included workshops both in the UK and India that explore the relationship between dance, yoga and the cultural environments that nurtured these classical traditions. Dhara, one of her recent p...

Flamenco has evolved over centuries of political and ethnic influences, writes Mathures Paul Grace personified, Laura Gonzalez swirled across the Calcutta School of Music auditorium floor to the amazement of those participating in a flamenco workshop. The very word flamenco conjures up images of intense passion and makes you say “Ole!”. Guitarist Fran Molina, Luis Garcia, percussionist Daniel Parra and dancer Laura Gonzalez gave pointers to the receptive audience gathered at Calcutta School of Music. But they were not averse to learning more about Indian dance forms and the degree to which the two can blend. “Whenever we get the opportunity, we listen to Indian music. It has rhythm. I know an American drummer who learnt the tabla when he visited India. But we have never spared a thought to the proposition of mixing Indian rhythms with flamenco,” says Daniel. Before arriving in Kolkata, the four mesmerised crowds in Delhi, where a sitar was also incorporated into the performance. Like o...