About the Work

Working at the intersection of the North Indian classical form of Kathak and contemporary dance, Gaurav Bhatti is known for virtuosic performances which encompass explosive energy, dramatic complexity, and eloquent emotion. His new solo is inspired by the life and poetry of the 18th-century Sufi mystic Bulleh Shah, who spoke out against powerful institutions, and advocated for tolerance at a time of violent religious strife. Integrating Kathak, Punjabi folk dances, and Western movement forms, Bhatti applies his distinctive contemporary sensibility to reassert Shah’s enduring message of universal love, and pays homage to the rich artistic heritage of the Punjab.

Bulleh Shah: Seeker of Light, encapsulates a full-length dance solo inspired by the life and poetry of the 18th-century Sufi mystic, Bulleh Shah, who resided in undivided Punjab and whose poetry is synonymous with Punjabi Sufism and was a beacon of syncretism at a time of bloody religious strife between Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs.

Gaurav’s contemporary sensibilities will integrate movements from Punjabi folk dances, Khatak and several Western forms, while musically he will work with a backbone of North Indian classical music, encased with more modern electronic sounds.