Coaching the Graduation Show 2023 for the Academy of Circus and Performance Arts. Guiding and working together with the students to articulate their thoughts and ideas and bring intellectual rigour in their thinking for crafting the final year group performance.
photo credit: Jona Harnischmacher
WORKSHOP TRACING HOME
3 - 4 December 2022 w/ community members of Performing Gender, Madrid (Pasoa2)
The two-day workshop explores the idea of tracing home in our own bodies, neighbourhood and city. We will use texts, objects, borrowed movements and un-lived memories to dive deeper into understanding our sense of belonging and identity.
HERE, NOW - a five-day intensive work-lab for makers
28 November - 2 December 2022
Here, Now is a slow-simmer work-lab for choreographers and makers in which we collectively unpack ‘our urgency to create’ and analyse ‘the recurring patterns in our creation processes’. Over the course of the five days, we will use interdisciplinary approaches (through texts, objects, dialogue, tarot reading, etc.) to create short scores/performance works while reflecting on the macroscopic dramaturgical attributes of the works built together. Each session, grounded in the idea of ‘being here and with; right in the moment’, will start with a somatic prelude and end with self-reflection.
Taking the Natyashastra as the point of departure, the lecture delves into two performative practices of northern India - Ramnagar ki Ramleela and Tawaif’s artistry - which are embedded and intermeshed in the histories, geographies and the religions of the land and thus embodied (consciously/subconsciously) in its people.
Teaching a course on Dramaturgy & Artistic Research for Year 1, 2 and 3 at the Academy of Circus and Performance Arts, Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Tilburg.
With a practice-based approach, packed with group assignments, individual presentations, debates and dialogues, the course explores varied aspects of micro & macro dramaturgy, open & concept dramaturgy, artistic research and intersectional ways of looking at contemporary circus practice today. It further delves into how lived experience & upbringing, professional lineage, current socio-political climate within the world and the arts, inspire & influence dramaturgical choices of an artist in developing her own unique language.
Coaching the Graduation Show 2022 for the Academy of Circus and Performance Arts. Guiding and working together with the students to articulate their thoughts and ideas and bring intellectual rigour in their thinking for crafting the final year group performance.
photo credit: Jona Harnischmacher
Teaching a course on Dramaturgy & Artistic Research for Year 1, 2 and 3 at the Academy of Circus and Performance Arts, Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Tilburg.
With a complete practice-based approach, packed with group assignments, individual presentations, debates and dialogues, the course explores varied aspects of micro & macro dramaturgy, open & concept dramaturgy, artistic research and intersectional ways of looking at contemporary circus practice today. It further delves into how lived experience & upbringing, professional lineage, current socio-political climate within the world and the arts, inspire & influence dramaturgical choices of an artist in developing her own unique language.
COME OUT OF THE CLOSET: THREE TIMES OVER
deliberating & liberating the identity of a performing body
This is a dialogue session.
A collective think-pod, if you may.
For performance makers, researchers, facilitators, creatives and enthusiasts.
To get-together, share, ideate, question, deliberate, reimagine and unpack embodied subjectivity and its plural narratives.
Together we’ll examine how our identity exists within a ‘triad’. Or simply put, influenced by the
threesome of —
- lived experience & upbringing
- cultural & sociopolitical environment
- professional lineage & current political climate
Recognising these three identity layers help in re-envisioning our expressibility as a creative; whilst collectively addressing topics of ethics, political ecology, intersectionality, decoloniality and neoliberal capitalism.
Coaching the Graduation Show 2021 for the Academy of Circus and Performance Arts. Guiding and working together with the students to articulate their thoughts and ideas, bring intellectual rigour in their thinking and show originality in the application of knowledge produced during the research for crafting the final group performance.
photo credit: Jona Harnischmacher
‘Umrao&Me’ is an innovative lecture performance in which the artist shares personal letters written by her to Umrao Jaan - the legendary 19th century ‘tawaif’ performer (courtesan) from the then undivided India. De-exoticizing traditional eastern narratives & discourses and deconstructing variegated expressions of broad prejudices; the lecture unpacks plural accounts of marginalisation, effects of colonialism, patriarchal society, body shaming, male gaze, morality, censorship and politics in the arts.
Duration: 40 minutes
Script & Performance: Nikita Maheshwary
Dramaturgy: Paul de Bruyne
Master Art Education, Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten
Teaching a course on Dramaturgy & Artistic Research for Year 1, 2 and 3 at the Academy of Circus and Performance Arts, Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Tilburg.
With a complete practice-based approach, packed with group assignments, individual presentations, debates and dialogues, the course explores varied aspects of micro & macro dramaturgy, open & concept dramaturgy, artistic research and intersectional ways of looking at contemporary circus practice today. It further delves into how lived experience & upbringing, professional lineage, current socio-political climate within the world and the arts, inspire & influence dramaturgical choices of an artist in developing her own unique language.
Coaching the Graduation Show 2020 for the Academy of Circus and Performance Arts. Guiding and working together with the students to build their uncertain voice, bring intellectual rigour in their thinking and show originality in the application of knowledge produced during the research for crafting the final group performance.
photo credit: Jona Harnischmacher
Teaching a course on Dramaturgy & Artistic Research for Year 3 at the Academy of Circus and Performance Arts, Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Tilburg.
With a complete practice-based approach, packed with group assignments, individual presentations, debates and dialogues, the course explores varied aspects of micro & macro dramaturgy, open & concept dramaturgy, artistic research and intersectional ways of looking at contemporary circus practice today. It further delves into how lived experience & upbringing, professional lineage, current socio-political climate within the world and the arts, inspire & influence dramaturgical choices of an artist in developing her own unique language.
Smells Like Dialogue: A Circus Symposium is a three-day symposium (15-17 January 2020) with two exciting guest speakers and lots of room for polyphonic dialogue. How and what does circus think? In what way is circus (also) a practice of thought? With these questions as a point of departure, let’s get talking!
Nikita Maheshwary will be hosting a table talk on ‘How does circus think through intersectionality?’ on the first day of the symposium.
CREDITS
Smells like Dialogue: A Circus Symposium is a co-production of KASK School of Arts and I knew these people VZW. It takes place in the context of The Circus Dialogues (2018-2020), an artistic research project lead by Bauke Lievens, Quintijn Ketels, Sebastian Kann, and Vincent Focquet. The Circus Dialogues is financed by the Arts Research Fund of University College Ghent (BE).
Smells like Dialogue: A Circus Symposium can take place thanks to the support of KASK School of Arts, Circuscentrum, Vooruit, UGent, S:PAM and the Flemish Government.
Artist talk ‘Walking as a practice of intimacy & Anonymity’ with the students of Master Contemporary Theatre, Dance & Dramaturgy, Utrecht University.
Does the city belong to you? Or do you belong to the city? Does the historical centre of Utrecht gives you a sense of ownership, or do you feel more at home in other parts of the city?
Artist Nikita Maheshwary walked through New Delhi, Tilburg and Sofia with women of different religion, race, age and culture and asked them how the city shaped their everyday live and sense of belonging. Now, she is in Utrecht and opens up her project to everyone. So join her on one of her a one-on-one ‘walking conversations’ to discuss your sense of belonging. The collective knowledge and impressions of these walks will evolve into a growing installation of memories, anecdotes, objects, and sounds, that will be shown throughout the festival
This three-day performance installation work at What You See Festival is an urge to explore the sense of belonging & ownership citizens feel towards their city. The urgency manifests from the growing trend of monoculture and its implications on public space, society and a city's heritage institutions.
https://whatyouseefestival.nl/while-we-walk-nikita-maheshwary
Facilitating a dialogue session for the annual seminar of Festival Circolo 2019.
COME OUT OF THE CLOSET: THREE TIMES OVER
deliberating & liberating the identity of a performing body
This is a dialogue session.
A collective think-pod, if you may.
For performance makers, researchers, facilitators, creatives and enthusiasts.
To get-together, talk, share, ideate,
question, deliberate and collectively unpack
the Performative-Relational Body.
Together we’ll examine how each performing body exists within a ‘triad’. Or simply put,
in a threesome of ——
- lived experience & upbringing
- cultural & sociopolitical environment
- professional lineage & current climate
within the arts.
Recognising these identity layers will help to re-invision our expressability as an artist and collectively delve in the topics of ethics, morality, stereotyping, re-contextualising gender & social roles of the performing body.
https://www.festivalcircolo.nl/program/program/circolo-symposium-angelique-wilkie
SitaaurGita Films as a part of Danzlenz - a lecture by Dr. Arshiya Sethi at
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
‘Umrao&Me’ is an innovative lecture performance in which the artist shares personal letters written by her to Umrao Jaan - the legendary 19th century ‘tawaif’ performer (courtesan) from the then undivided India. De-exoticizing traditional eastern narratives & discourses and deconstructing variegated expressions of broad prejudices; the lecture unpacks plural accounts of marginalisation, effects of colonialism, patriarchal society, body shaming, male gaze, morality, censorship and politics in the arts.
Duration: 40 minutes
Script & Performance: Nikita Maheshwary
Dramaturgy: Paul de Bruyne
‘Umrao&Me’ is an innovative lecture performance in which the artist shares personal letters written by her to Umrao Jaan - the legendary 19th century ‘tawaif’ performer (courtesan) from the then undivided India. De-exoticizing traditional eastern narratives & discourses and deconstructing variegated expressions of broad prejudices; the lecture unpacks plural accounts of marginalisation, effects of colonialism, patriarchal society, body shaming, male gaze, morality, censorship and politics in the arts.
Duration: 40 minutes
Script & Performance: Nikita Maheshwary
Dramaturgy: Paul de Bruyne
‘Umrao&Me’ is an innovative lecture performance in which the artist shares personal letters written by her to Umrao Jaan - the legendary 19th century ‘tawaif’ performer (courtesan) from the then undivided India. De-exoticizing traditional eastern narratives & discourses and deconstructing variegated expressions of broad prejudices; the lecture unpacks plural accounts of marginalisation, effects of colonialism, patriarchal society, body shaming, male gaze, morality, censorship and politics in the arts.
Duration: 40 minutes
Script & Performance: Nikita Maheshwary
Dramaturgy: Paul de Bruyne
As a part of the {exchange X explore} initiative, ‘Umrao & Me’ is set to be performed at the Shiv Nadar University.
‘Umrao&Me’ is an innovative lecture performance in which the artist shares personal letters written by her to Umrao Jaan - the legendary 19th century ‘tawaif’ performer (courtesan) from the then undivided India. De-exoticizing traditional eastern narratives & discourses and deconstructing variegated expressions of broad prejudices; the lecture unpacks plural accounts of marginalisation, effects of colonialism, patriarchal society, body shaming, male gaze, morality, censorship and politics in the arts.
Duration: 40 minutes
Script & Performance: Nikita Maheshwary
Dramaturgy: Paul de Bruyne
‘Umrao&Me’ is an innovative lecture performance in which the artist shares personal letters written by her to Umrao Jaan - the legendary 19th century ‘tawaif’ performer (courtesan) from the then undivided India. De-exoticizing traditional eastern narratives & discourses and deconstructing variegated expressions of broad prejudices; the lecture unpacks plural accounts of marginalisation, effects of colonialism, patriarchal society, body shaming, male gaze, morality, censorship and politics in the arts.
Duration: 40 minutes
Script & Performance: Nikita Maheshwary
Dramaturgy: Paul de Bruyne
‘Umrao&Me’ is an innovative lecture performance in which the artist shares personal letters written by her to Umrao Jaan - the legendary 19th century ‘tawaif’ performer (courtesan) from the then undivided India. De-exoticizing traditional eastern narratives & discourses and deconstructing variegated expressions of broad prejudices; the lecture unpacks plural accounts of marginalisation, effects of colonialism, patriarchal society, body shaming, male gaze, morality, censorship and politics in the arts.
Duration: 40 minutes
Script & Performance: Nikita Maheshwary
Dramaturgy: Paul de Bruyne
https://issuu.com/korzotheater/docs/korzo-india-2018-programma-issuu
An introduction lecture to kickstart ‘Making Space’ - an intensive week on building performances in public space. Hosted by Dans Brabant, Tilburg and Fontys Dance Academy.
http://dansbrabant.nl/nieuws/making-space-week-2018/
A lecture presentation for the first year students of Fontys Dance Academy on the history of Dance in India and its contribution to the new age films and cinema.
A lecture presentation at the Department of Fine Arts, Benaras Hindu University in association with Shiv Nadar University and Take Art Magazine.
