A movement piece performed in complete silence. Contemporary dance artistes Avantika Bahl and Vishal Sarvaiya have collaborated on Say, What? — a one-of-itskind production, which is devised both for the ‘hearing and deaf’. This non-verbal performance concentrates on “the interaction between two people, who slide between using and abandoning codified language”.
A relatively rare concept in terms of performances in the city, Say, What? strives to break boundaries and make the arts more inclusive and accessible to a larger gamut of audiences. Through the piece, the spectators come across various “conversations that are set up in space using sign language as a point of entry; the role of gesture is re-interpreted and de-mystified within the realm of communication”.
Avantika says, “Through sign language, gestures and movement, Vishal and I start a conversation on stage, which is non-verbal yet profound. There has been a deliberate attempt to deconstruct the complexity of conventional communication styles and look beyond the fundamentals of communication. And, thus, negotiate the two worlds (‘hearing and deaf’) through a speechless conversation. Although, there is no specific narrative used, the piece conveys a strong message to the audience.” Crafted after working on six draft pieces, in-depth research and detailed feedback from people, the 55-minute show attempts to bring sign language to the mainstream, as well as create an opportunity for conversations that are more than just a formality.
Vishal, who is a deaf artiste himself, and Avantika started collaborating on the piece when she was learning the Indian Sign Language in 2015. After successful runs at a number of prestigious platforms around the country, Say, What? is set to make its Bengaluru premiere on November 24.
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