She moves, she is still. She is far, she is close. She is in everything, she is without everything. - Isha Upanishad
In STRĪ choreographer Poernima Gobardhan shares indescribable woman.The only way to introduce her to you is by naming what she is nog. She is scentless, formless, silent and above all eternal. Would you like to meet her? With the classical dance form Bharata Natyam as a starting point, Gobardhan and her dancers enable you to enter into this encounter. A dance performance with an impressive soundscape, penetrating movements and an exceptional interplay between space and dancers.
The Western image of Indian dance stems too much from colonial relations and the idea of the exotic. What I do is about universal themes. I just make dance. In my own way.
- Poernima Gobardhan
Since 2018, Gobardhan has been exploring the concept of feminine power and how it is shaped by social and cultural norms. In her solo Mātā (2018), she focused on the personal meaning of feminine strength, influenced by societal and cultural norms rooted in the Netherlands’ patriarchal past. She drew inspiration from the goddess Durgā, a warrior against negative forces who embodies both fierce combativeness and maternal protection. With Kālī Mātā (2022), Gobardhan expanded her research to the eternal, universal feminine power—a struggle that evolves into complete surrender, allowing opposites to merge. In STRĪ (2023), Gobardhan moves entirely beyond the personal. Surrender creates a boundless space in which the universal feminine power can freely manifest. This group choreography features three dancers exploring a collective feminine energy. The natural evolution of Gobardhan’s artistic practice lies in her continued exploration of feminine power and how it relates to broader societal and cultural norms.
Productie Poernima Gobardhan & Korzo | Choreografie Poernima Gobardhan | Dans Chandenie Gobardhan , Poernima Gobardhan en Sandhya Suresh | Regie Leo Spreksel | Muziek Jorg Schellekens en Vidwan SV Giridhar | Lichtontwerp Albert Tulling | Kostuum Jivika Biervliet | Foto Camilla Greenwell | With gratitude to Fonds Podiumkunsten, Gemeente Den Haag
Choreografe Poernima Gobardhan staat bekend om haar verbindende karakter en intieme voorstellingen. Ze is in staat eeuwenoude verhalen en onderwerpen om te zetten tot een choreografie die ook vandaag de dag nog stand houdt. Haar passie is Bharata Natyam, een klassieke dansvorm die ze heeft omgezet tot iets hedendaags.
