While many pre-modern Indian temples feature bas-reliefs of dance, the Nataraj Temple at Chidambaram (which has a documented history dating from the 7the century CE) has a special relationship with dance. Not only is the temple dedicated to the “Lord of Dance” but it uniquely features all the 108 karanas of classical dance mentioned in the Natyashastra.
108 Frames / Chidambaram will be a guided artistic process into formulating ideas that will lead participants to create a proposal for a dance-documentary or dance-film. The proposal/treatment ideas may include text, audio, visual material, experiments with multi-media modes of communication.
Based on field visits to the Nataraj Temple at Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu it is an opportunity for artists and scholars to rigourously research their interests in a communal model, freed from consumerist/State control.
The Auroville Film Institute specialises in documentary film practice and pedagogy outside industry and university models. AuroApaar is a cross-media collective that has pioneered various Indian screendance initiatives. This collaboration will conflate methods and media that are traditionally regarded as separate.
Participants will have access to
Guided, critical readings of seminal essays
Online talks by Indian and international experts
Tours of the Nataraj temple in Chidambaram, guided by experts.
Specially curated examples of dance-documentation across traditional and digital media.
Guidance in creating proposals towards a dance-film / dance-documentary
Timeline:
16th Jan to 28 Feb : online
March 1 – 15th : residential involving one or more site visits to Nataraj Temple in Chidambaram
Process
Phase 1 (online)
The process will begin with an online component involving close readings, critical studies of documentary film and photography. It will also involve viewing and analysis of prevalent styles of dance-documentation.
PHASE 2 (Onsite/Residential)
Involving site visits to the Nataraj temple to plan treatment/approach for the projects.
Mentors
The mentors will include Indian and international experts on dance-documentaries, Chola sculpture, classical dance, documentary filmmaking, archives.
The list of mentors will be announced soon.