Newsletter - August

Hello ARDS fam! August has been an exciting month filled with a lot of events. We're excited to share our favorite moments and celebrate the amazing community we're building together. Afro-House workshop with Amit & Karan

The Afro-House workshop on August 10th, led by Amit and Karan, was a high-energy, fun-filled class. Participants learned basic Afro-House foundations, key terminologies, and various styles within the genre, all while having a fantastic time! Afro-house is a soulful and energetic sub-genre of house music that originated primarily in South Africa in the 1990s. While Afro-house is often associated with South Africa, Angola has its own distinct and influential style which is more intense and dance-focused, making it stand out with its raw, syncopated rhythms. A key characteristic of Afro-house dance, particularly the Angolan style, is its emphasis on intricate footwork. The footwork isn't just a part of the dance; it's the foundation, allowing dancers to express the music's many rhythmic layers with their feet. The Reaction Show ARDS witnessed its first ever in-house production written, curated and directed by Divya Easwaran on the 24th of August- The Reaction Show. This show was a massive success, daring to explore the fascinating intersection of art and science. The show was divided into 5 acts comprising 3 performances and featuring 2 guest speakers. The production was structured into five unique acts creating a truly memorable experience for our audience.

Act 1 - A Taste of Magic Initially created as a piece for Spectra 2025, A Taste of Magic is a piece inviting the audience into a world where waiters perform magic tricks and the food is not just delicious, but enchanted. With over 20 performers showcasing various different magic tricks, the audience was indeed dazzled by this performance.

Act 2 - Tricky by Karun Krishna The first guest speaker for the night was Karun Krishna, a celebrated magician, beatboxer, and emcee. In his act, "Tricky," he delved into the deceptive moves and subtle techniques behind magic. Karun showed us how every moment and pause is meticulously crafted to convince an audience of a false reality, providing a unique look into the artistry and psychology of illusion.

Act 3 - The Dopamine Effect Divya Easwaran's piece, The Dopamine Effect, was created for the 2024 Performance batch. The choreography offered a realistic and scientific look into why we feel what we feel, with a specific focus on the role of dopamine.

Act 4 - Dope by Smokey the Ghost With over 19 years as a pioneer in the Indian hip-hop scene, Smokey presented ‘Dope,’ an act that explores how sound influences us on a biological level. He bridged the worlds of biology, sound, and hardware, showing how every beat and every pause creates a chemical response in the human body.

Act 5 - Pause The night concluded with ‘Pause,’ an act that explored the importance of taking a moment to be still in our busy lives. This unique production blended elements of a play, dance, and improv, all centered around the theme of stillness. Through various scenarios, both real and imagined, this production examines what sort of effect a single moment of stillness has on our senses and how it alters our experience of the world. Pause was a collaborative performance featuring ARDS instructors, and very talented musicians as well as actors.

A massive thank you to everyone who attended the show and to all of you who consistently supported us throughout the entire creative process. Your energy and encouragement made it all possible. We were so inspired by the incredible feedback, and we're already hard at work planning more "reactions" to bring your way. Stay tuned for what's next!

That's a wrap on August! We have a fresh lineup of events for the upcoming months and the excitement is just beginning. Contemporary Workshop with Lalit Free Soul

Join Lalit on the 20th and 21st of September to explore the world of Somatic Mapping of Movement and Embodied Improvisation. This workshop is designed for all levels, inviting you to unlock your body's potential and unleash your creative spirit. Time: 7:15 PM–9:15 PM Date: September 20th and 21st Venue: ARDS India

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Shuffle with Sana

Get ready to shuffle! Sana Nasim is here to introduce you to a beginner-friendly workshop and a choreo workshop to learn the core moves and foundations of shuffling. Whether you're a beginner or ready to learn new routines, there’s a session for you. Time: 7:15 PM–9:15 PM Date: September 27th and 28th Venue: ARDS India

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Afro Station Bangalore

ARDSIndia is organising its first ever edition of Afro Station India supported by Afrontal. The event is gonna be 3 days filled with dance workshops by international and national faculties, the ‘Game of Threes’, a first-of-its-kind creative choreo competition in India, panel discussions and an afterparty to celebrate our growing Afro community in India. The event is on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of October hosted right here at our studio at Indira nagar, Bangalore! Let’s come together to share, connect and celebrate.

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