InterGlobe Foundation has partnered with Sudhaaya Dance Foundation to rediscover historical dance figurines. The project will document and celebrate the depiction of feminine figures in the historical sculptural motifs of India -Yakshis, Shaalabhanjikas and Alasakanyas that represent a woman who was liberated, accomplished, confident and the one that proudly proclaims her own femininity.

These motifs are revered across artistic disciplines and are abound in the religious architecture of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. They have, in large numbers occupied spaces in stupas and temples. But with modern times, these culturally and aesthetically rich sculptures are losing their significance. Hence, this project aims to reclaim these representations of Indian women and their relationship with environment and explain it through a living performing tradition using the Odissi dance form. The revival of this immemorial understanding of gender and environment will help rediscover these lost dance forms as well as re-establish a connection of the younger generation with the heritage of our country.

Main theme:
• Highlight the Paradigms of the Feminine.
• Celebrating womanhood and the idea of the feminine in India, by weaving together sculpture and dance, traditions that represent the visual and performing arts of India.

As part of the project, photo documentation of selected sculptures to create visual content that connects these to dance movements from Odissi will be done. Commemorating the International Women’s Day, the first event based on the theme ‘Interpreting the Feminine in Sculpture through Odissi, a tradition in Dance’ was organized at Sunder Nursery Amphitheatre, Delhi on 5th March 2020. The performance saw several dance pieces brought together by renowned Odissi dancer, Ms Shagun Butani to visualize the imagery of Shaalbhanjika – that depicts women and their relationship with trees in sculptural motifs.