COVID-19 UPDATE:
Following advice from UNSW on 16 March 2020, we have to regretfully cancel our public events until Easter. Ticket sales for this event have been suspended and everyone who has bought tickets will be issued refunds.
Drums and dance. Earth and water. Chi Udaka is a collaborative work between contemporary Australian taiko ensemble Taikoz and classical South Indian dance company Lingalayam, which has toured both across Australia and internationally. This performance is Claudia Wherry's graduating Honours creative project.
The work explores the duality between the two distinct art forms; the earthiness of taiko (Japanese) drumming, with it’s grounded aesthetic and explosive dynamism reflected in ‘Chi’, meaning ‘Earth’ in Japanese. This is contrasted with the flowing sensuality of the Lingalayam artists’ dance, represented in ‘Udaka’, meaning ‘Water’ in Sanskrit. Chi Udaka is entirely unique, synthesising music in dance, and dance in music through an exciting display of vibrant drumming and movement, which celebrates and contrasts the differences between Japanese taiko and South Indian classical dance. All together, the various works within the production aim to create a reflection of a single day, starting in the early morning, and going through until nighttime.
This reduced production presents a focus on the taiko (Japanese drum) works from Chi Udaka in the intimate venue of Io Myers Studio. Join UNSW honours student Claudia Wherry, alongside fellow Taikoz members, John Napier on cello, and Vineetha Menon as solo dancer in this up-close and personal performance of selected works from Chi Udaka.
Taikoz is an Australian ensemble which studies and performs contemporary music on the Japanese taiko (drums), led by Artistic Director Ian Cleworth.
Lingalayam is Australian dance company which draws its repertoire from the Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi styles of South Indian classical dance, led by Artistic Director Anandavalli.
