THE FOREST DREAM

“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.”
― Chris Maser
The work, a confluence of 3 dance styles- Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi and Contemporary aims to awaken audiences (particularly children aged 5-14 years) from environmental inertia. According to the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization, an estimated 18 million acres of forest are lost each year and 4500 acres of forests are cleared every hour by forest fires, bull dozers etc.
‘THE FOREST DREAM’ (an adaptation of the book by Sophia Gohlz) is based on Jadav Payeng’s true story who was distressed by deforestation/erosion on his dying Majuli Island(world’s largest river islands in the Brahmaputra River). The work takes us on an adventurous journey of impactful attempts by the young boy (a role-model to many) to help his beloved land highlighting his defiance against all odds to nurture what he had planted, that grew into an unexpected sanctuary sheltering many. Carnatic (South Indian) and Western music traditions will be the warp and weft of this musical tapestry.