Duration: Approx. 1 hour
World Premiere: Aug. 9th, 2024, Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai
Online Premiere (Extract): 2021

Lost… in the forest! is danced in three parts. The first two pieces were made during the pandemic (re-choreographed now for the stage) and reflect the surreal nature of the times. The last piece, portrays hope, renewal and joy.

River In the Boat!
Now Seen… Now Not!
Walking into the sunbeam!

Anxiety. Doubt. Acceptance. Adaptation. Transformation. Time slowed and one was able to reach out and reach in, finding creativity in existing realities. After that, the process took over. Immersion! Abandon!

Naav Mein Nadiya, portrays the tumultuous upside-down existence at that time. The empty frames symbolise the confines that we were living in. Suspended mid-air, barren and bare they were meaningless and devoid of all narratives.

The third piece, which has now been added, is about the sun finally entering our lives, embracing everything with its rejuvenating, energising and hope-filled sun-beam. Sarva Mangalam bhavatu!

Dance needs to breathe the air of the NOW. It cannot survive in a vacuum. As the Pandemic raged through the world, time and space had become amorphous. My dance and emotions too, were embroiled in this viscous amalgam of tumbling moments. Though the full celebration of life was denied to humanity, creativity being a many splendored thing came to life, the seed germinated and the sapling started growing. Let’s not wait for the mist to clear. Let us step into the fog… into the forest of dance. If not sight, fragrance will surely guide us….and the sunbeam will warm our beings.

As I stepped into the forest of dance, and watched the moon and its reflection, the words below came to my mind - without a thought… without
deliberation… without search… without exploration…

The deer startled!
Two moons? Which is what?
What is real and what is an illusion?
Is the illusion real? A REAL illusion?

Ah! says the deer,
I am lost,
LOST… in the forest!

And the pilgrim on the boat? Lost?
Am I lost? The wanderer asks.
Lost in time or time lost in me?
Lost in space or space lost in me?

River? Still? A STILL river?
A turbulent boat, hurtling down! But to where?
On what? Where is the water? Where is the river?
In the boat! The river is in the boat! Lost river, lost boat!

Time? Space? Narratives?
Framed? Unframed?
Life?... Ah! Lost narratives!

LOST… River… Boat… Deer… Space… Time… Narratives!
LOST… Me!
LOST… in the forest!
And the deer, leaps across, free!

Concept, Dance and Choreography: Aditi Mangaldas
Set design: Manish Kansara & Aditi Mangaldas
Light Design: Govind Singh Yadav
Technical Director: Niranjan Gokhale
Production: Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company & The Drishtikon Dance Foundation

Music Composition and Vocals: Shubha Mudgal
Tabla: Aneesh Pradhan
Poetry: Kunwar Narain
Our gratitude to Apurva Narain for permitting the use of his father’s poem

Vocal Composition: Shubha Mudgal
Vocals, harmonium and effects: Faraz Ahmed
Pakhawaj, Manjeera, padhant and effects: Ashish Gangani
Tabla and Padhant: Mohit Gangani
Sarangi: Shahnawaz Khan
Poetry: Bharatendu Harishchandra

Music composed by Faraz Ahmed and Ashish Gangani, inspired by the original composition by Pt. Ravi Shankar Ji
Vocals: Faraz Ahmed
Pakhawaj: Ashish Gangani
Tabla: Mohit Gangani
Sarangi: Shahnawaz Khan

Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company & The Drishtikon Dance Foundation

National Centre For The Performing Arts, Mumbai
G5A Foundation for Contemporary Culture, Mumbai

Commissioned by: Sampradaya Dance Creations | Canada
Supported by: Toulmin Creatorship | Through The Center for Ballet and the Arts, New York University and National Sawdust Partnership | USA & Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company & The Drishtikon Dance Foundation | India