Indian classical kathak dance and Sufi poetry take flight in this cinematic journey

Returning to East after it’s sell out premiere season, Sadler’s Wells associate artist Aakash Odedra brings the myth of the bulbul to life in this spiritual and captivating production.

A common songbird throughout Africa and Asia, bulbuls symbolise the beauty of the natural world and the pursuit of religious enlightenment.

Odedra (Samsara and Mehek) interprets an ancient Sufi story about a captured bulbul, which sings an exquisite tune before perishing from despair. In this piece, the bulbul myth becomes a metaphor for the fleeting nature of dance and life itself.

Developed with choreographer Rani Khanam and composer Rushil Ranjan, Odedra combines Ranjan’s epic score with the music, dance and poetry traditions of Sufism to create an ambitious work that is both ferocious and contemplative.

Header image description: A man is wearing a gold floaty outfit and a gold hat. He has red rose petals flying all around him and his arms up as though he is spinning. He looks peaceful.

Header image © Angela Grabowska