Preview: Gods & Mortals at Sunderland Minster

Presented by Sunderland Stages in association with GemArts and Kadam/Pulse
Gods & Mortals 
Sunderland Minster 

Friday 12^th May 2017

Stunning Indian dance takes centre stage at the breath-taking Sunderland Minster as part of Sunderland Stages 

On Friday 12^th May at 7.30pm the Kadam/Pulse Odissi Ensemble bring their stunning Indian classical dance show Gods & Mortals to Sunderland. Don't miss the UK's only odissi dance group, who've thrilled London audiences at the Southbank Centre, as they perform in Sunderlandfor one night only.

Photo: Simon Richarson

Odissi is one of the principle Indian dance styles and is recognised by its close replication of poses found on classical temple sculptures and by its vivid storytelling. This emotional and moving performance, from some of the country’s finest odissi artists, will be staged within the breath-taking Sunderland Minster as part of the Sunderland Stages programme, which brings innovative live performance to favourite and unexpected places in and around Sunderland.

As Helen Ferguson, Director of Sunderland Stages explains: ‘This will be a fantastic event for Sunderland, giving audiences the chance to experience a vibrant performance of odissi dance and traditional Indian music in the dramatic setting of the Minster. What a fabulous way to spend a Friday evening taking in an exciting cultural experience in our city!’ 

Discover this exceptional quartet of dancers and live musicians, from very different backgrounds, brought together by their love of odissi. In this exciting show four passionate, committed and highly-trained odissi dancers, accompanied by live music, present a richly-textured evening of solo and group choreographies. They tell the stories of the Hindu gods and highlight the everyday struggles and triumphs that people face.

This dance of devotion, divine and human, will be presented in pieces created by the dancers for the group as well as solo performances, with the thrill of live musical accompaniment that draws out the intricacies of melody and rhythm while the dancers create harmonies of movement.

Gods & Mortals is presented as part of an exciting new collaboration between GemArts and Sunderland Stages. GemArts creates and programmes diverse work, championing artists from home and abroad, presenting cross art form work in spaces across the North East.

As Vikas Kumar, Director of GemArts said: "It is fitting that GemArts and Sunderland Stages will showcase classical Odissi dance, first seen in the temples of eastern Indian, within one of our regions stunning minsters this May, and we are thrilled to have been given a platform to bring this fantastic work to the North East. Audiences to Gods & Mortals can expect a breathtakingly beautiful style of dance, marked by sculpturesque positions, with four of the UK’s top odissi dancers performing as part of the ensemble. This work will really compliment and enrich the exciting programming which the team at Sunderland Stages have put together, and GemArts looks forward to developing our work with them further going forward”.

Tickets:

Gods & Mortals is suitable for all ages and is at Sunderland Minster on Friday 12 May at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12 full price and £10 for concessions. For more information or to book tickets visit www.sunderlandstages.co.uk or contact the box office on 0191 561 3455.