Raghav Handa’s TWO – An intergenerational bromance between a musician and a dancer

Central to traditional Indian Kathak (pronounced ‘Kah-tahk’), the dancer must never touch the drums. The musician commands and the dancer must follow. That’s the rule. But what happens when roles are reversed and the dancer takes control? Dancer Raghav Handa and maestro tabla musician Maharshi Raval’s rule-breaking, intergenerational bromance sits at the heart of TWO.

For 10 years, Raghav and Maharshi have built a friendship typically discouraged by the hierarchy between the dancer and musician in Indian Kathak. Higher in the pecking order, the musician controls the dance and from their platform they call to the dancer. The dancer responds to the call almost in a game-like fashion – but they never overtake the musician.

TWO challenges these dominant ideologies through a highly physical dance vocabulary and by introducing elements of ‘live-responsiveness’ and unpredictability to the relationship between musician and dancer. The old ways are disrupted and suddenly the roles of ‘leader’ and ‘follower’ are up for grabs.

While motivated primarily by a love and respect for Kathak tradition, TWO throws open the doors of the discipline and stretches the limits of musician/dancer interactions. In so doing, it speaks not only to the principles of Indian Kathak, but transcends formal and cultural specificity, interrogating shifting power relationships and inviting audiences to consider the profundity of collaboration.

TWO represents a significant step in Raghav Handa’s practice. Raghav’s interactions with Maharshi Raval, his long-time collaborator and tabla player, reflect the creative possibilities that are inherent to sharing power and creating space for others. By exposing historical formality and challenging tradition through a contemporary prism.

Raghav says, ‘My hope is that the audience will appreciate that risk and discomfort can nurture growth and enrichment.’

Maharshi improvises the music during each performance. The rhythms of this fast-paced show are different each time – no two performances are the same.

In this comedic, joyful celebration of collaboration, the pair present a charming, playful testament to friendship, respect and creative trust.

Filled with impressive physicality, virtuosic music and witty encounters, Raghav Handa’s TWO is an expert, tongue-in-cheek demonstration of respectfully challenging tradition and the true power of collaboration that follows.  

“TWO is a must see for anyone wanting to see Kathak dance transformed into a mesmerising and witty contemporary performance.” – Australian Arts Review

Performances of TWO will be from 20 September to 23 September at PICA Performance Space. Run time is 60 minutes, no interval, and tickets are $25–35 from pica.org.au

School bookings are also available. To book your school group, please contact education@pica.org.au