By George Dixon.
I was very privileged to attend and experience one of the most masterful dance performances I’ve attended in a long while.
“Songs of the Bulbul” is part of the Persian Sufi culture.
The Bulbul (nightingale) is part of the Sufi myth.
As a prelude, the story is narrated, which, for the uninitiated, helps us understand the dance transitions between each section of the journey.
The music and dance perfectly portray the story and meaning. From what is perceived as total freedom to true freedom through various stages of isolation, which provides a deeper sense of freedom by removing distractions, to the ultimate freedom achieved through transformation and accession.
Aakash Odedra, Choreographer and Solo Dancer, delivers an unparalleled performance of dance, movement, and ballet interpretation.
From the raising of the opening curtain to the final blackout, Odedra is the Bulbul.
Every hand gesture, gliding footwork, and birdlike head movement is pure poetry in motion.
The sixty-minute nonstop performance was spellbinding; the audience was transfixed in total silence, especially during the stillness.
The lighting was amazing; the choreography and spotting were “on point”. The stage adjustments to the petals were a master class in positioning and control.
The total use of the stage area provided both an understanding of freedom and the relationship between that and restriction.
The final scenes are masterful, tasteful, very impactful and true to the story.
It was clear that the multicultural, age-diverse audience absolutely loved and appreciated the performance with a double-curtain standing ovation.
Performances of this high standard do not come around so often.
