With its glass and metal facade,the LIC building in Connaught Place in Delhi is one of the most imposing of architect Charles Correas work. On November 26,however,it will be the centre of attention for a different reason swinging down from its tall heights will be members of Project Bandaloop,a group from San Francisco,USA. They will rappel and spin in choreographed moves that combine rock climbing and contemporary dance. We re-frame how people see their environment and the nature of dance, says Amelia Rudolf,artistic director and founder of the group,even as her associates anchor their ropes on to the stone walls at the Golconda Fort,where a performance took place on Sunday. Live Indian music will play during the prelude and interlude and the historical site will be treated as another character in the act. In Delhi,the height of the dance walls will allow us to move freely,with larger jumps and longer pendulum runs, adds Rudolf. If the piece Inverted Duets pays homage to tango while free hanging from the overhead truss,Swing with Me is a simple duet and Tripledress ,a performance by three women. The reaction during the rehearsals has been amazing, smiles Thomas Cavanagh,director of operations. Established in 1991,the group has performed in 12 countries spread over five continents. Earlier this year,they were in Mumbai,but Cavanagh feels that the current visit marks the India debut. The Mumbai performance was a private event, says Cavanagh,who did a recce of the two sites in August. We made changes in our performance according to the nature of the sites, adds Cavanagh. Back in the US,the other members of the group are working on another India project putting together videos shot in Nanda Devi last year. This will be part of a projection that will be used for their grand project IdEgo,which will premiere in San Francisco in the fall of 2011. It marks our 21st anniversary, shares Rudolf,who learned Bharatanatayam and spent several years of her childhood in India,when her parents,professors emeritus at the University of Chicago,were researching for books. Last year,she was back in Jaipur to repeat her wedding vows. I married Todd in September of 2008 in California and decided I was not properly married until I did a Rajput wedding in Jaipur, she states. Explains the love for India.
