As Brighton gears up for the Pride weekend on the 3rd and 4th of August, there is a wide array of events to celebrate the occasion across venues around the city. With so many options to choose from, why not add one more to the list?
If you’re the kind of person who is not comfortable with clubbing or partying hard but still wants to be a part of something enjoyable and magical, you should book a ticket to watch ‘Waltzing the Blue Gods’ at The Dance Space, hosted by South East Dance on the 4th of August.
I had the honour of speaking to Jaivant Patel, who, along with his dance company, has developed this amazing show that has been performed in reputed venues like The Place in London and Kalasangam Arts Centre in Bradford, among many others.
I will not give too many spoilers about the show but simply preface it by saying it is an ode to Indian mythology as well as queerness, seamlessly blended through the Indian classical dance form of Kathak.
Apart from the fact that such a piece of work is unlike anything currently present in the performing arts landscape of the United Kingdom and watching it makes you a part of this unique experience as well, I believe this performance is important for more than that. Brighton prides itself on its inclusive and diverse environment, but in the wider LGBTQIA+ programming, one seldom finds intersectional representation.
What makes the aesthetic and culture of Indian classical dance such a versatile medium is that it includes elaborate costumes, makeup, and decorations akin to what one can see in drag performances and is equally resembling quieter, sombre attitudes that many of us in the queer community might be more comfortable with.
This work is also an ode to the diasporic legacies of many first-generation and second-generation immigrants living in the UK. According to Jaivant Patel, this show is an “alternate version of reclaiming stigma from colonial rule.” When asked what excites him most about bringing this performance to the stage, he said it’s the fact that it allows him to connect with the South Asian queer community. It also gives the audience a chance to discover the brilliant dance space in the heart of Brighton, in case you haven’t been before.
This Arts Council of England-funded work of art aims to bridge the gaps between South Asian and queer representation within the dance industry, and you should book your spot so you can be enriched, enlightened, and thoroughly enchanted by this glimmering fresh perspective brought to you by Jaivant Patel and South East Dance on the 4th of August, from 6 – 7.30 pm.
To book your ticket or to find out more visit: https://tickets.southeastdance.org.uk/sales/events/performances/waltzing-the-blue-gods?_ga=2.267550024.731321608.1722075462-118009581.1722075462
