In search of… Amooma’s Dance

Let us join together in remembering the beautiful harvest festival reminiscent of the South Indian festival Onam we all knew once upon a time. Rejoice in swinging on swings, dancing and singing some native and not so native songs from the region of Kerala, playing games and having a sumptuous vegetarian meal on a banana leaf - Sadya.

“Ett av mina vackraste dansminnen är när jag dansar med min farmor under firandet av Onam i Kerala, Indien för nästan femton år sen. Min farmor fyllde samtidigt 90 år. Och det var första gången jag var med och firar denna högtid. Onam infaller lite olika i förhållande till vår kalender. Den bestäms enligt malayalam kalendern som i sin tur följer rörelserna i himlen, månen och stjärnornas förhållanden. Men högtiden infaller alltid i slutet av regnperioden, så allt är grönt, frodigt och solen har inte hunnit göra det brännande hett. Klimatet bjuder in till festligheter. Detta var första gången som alla min pappas syskon var samlade samtidigt som jag var där. Alla hade klätt sej fina. Vi hade traditionsenligt hängt upp en gunga mellan kokospalmerna. Vi turades om att gunga varandra däri. Musiken spelade från en skraltig högtalare. Plötsligt reser sej farmor och börjar dansa - och jag minns att alla försöker få stunden att vara så länge som möjligt Nu har sökandet påbörjats, en upptäcktsfärd i delad dans.”
Rani Nair

“One of my most beautiful dance memories is when I danced with my grandmother during the celebration of Onam in Kerala, India almost fifteen years ago. My grandmother turned 90 at the same time and it was the first time I was there to celebrate this holiday.

Onam is celebrated at different timings every year, in relation to the western calendar. It is determined according to the Malayalam calendar which follows the astronomical and astrological positions of the moon and stars. However, the holiday always falls towards the end of the monsoon season, so everything is a lush green, and the sun has not had time to make its scorching presence felt. Thus creating an inviting atmosphere for the festivities. There were marigolds hung everywhere and the smell of jasmine was in the air.

This was the first time all of my dad’s siblings were at the same place at the same time! Everyone was dressed in festive clothing, beautiful white saris with gold borders and crisp white mundus. According to tradition, there hung a swing between the coconut trees. We took turns rocking each other in it. Festive Malayalam songs played from a loudspeaker. Suddenly, grandma gets up and starts dancing – and I remember everyone trying to make that special moment last as long as possible…”
Rani Nair

https://fulkonst.se/Farmors-dans
https://chakkars.de/portfolio-item/rani-nair-01/

13 Aug 2023

Tid: kl.11:00 - 15.30

What to expect:
• Swinging and singing
• Dance-along
• Silent Disco
• Childhood games
• Face-painting
• Sadya (Traditional vegetarian Indian meal on a banana leaf) by Maria's Kitchen.

For all those of you who might miss In Search of... Amooma’s dance on the 13th of August can still experience a bit of the magic in our singing and kollam workshops . Singing - 11th Aug 16:00-17:00 & Kollam - 12th Aug 10:00 - 12:00.

Contact : 0734867665

Venue: Koloniföreningen, Öster 1, Östra Fäladsvägen, Lund.

Hosted by Embassy of Movement: Rani Nair and Mrinalini D’souza

Arrangör: Embassy of Movement med stöd från Kulturrådet, Region Skåne och Lunds kommun

If the event is fully booked, we will investigate the possibility of holding another one within a month. Please email us at –embassyofmovement(at)gmail.com
 

Lunds evenemangskalender

EXTRA
Choreographic walk 9 september at 15.30 och 17.00
Guest artist Vidhi Sharma
Hosts Mrinalini D’souza and Rani Nair
open for anyone whos interested in dance
Fri entré

Contact: embassyofmovement@gmail.com

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The Embassy of Movement is dedicated to decolonial practices, collaborative works and participatory arts. The platform is based in the region of Skåne, south of Sweden.