Mehek
Mehek, meaning fragrance or smell, reminds us of the deep connection between scent and memory. The performance is centered around a mature woman and a younger man, delving deep into their intricate characters. Through their interaction, the dance challenges societal norms and seeks to redefine the very essence of love.
The scenography is conceived as a void filled with shards of glass. These shards evoke ideas of fragmentation and layers through their moving pieces, and they serve as surfaces for reflection.
As the characters move through this fragmented landscape, the dance explores themes of memory, love, and the complex interplay between the two. The void is not merely empty but filled with the tangible presence of their past and present, their hopes and regrets. Each shard of glass becomes a piece of their story, a reflection of their inner worlds, and a fragment of their shared journey.
The movement of the glass pieces creates an ever-changing environment, symbolizing the dynamic nature of love and memory. Are the lovers trying to piece together what was broken, or are they discovering new facets of themselves and each other in the process?
In Mehek, the dance and the scenography blend seamlessly to portray a love that is as complex and multi-dimensional as the fragments of glass on stage. It is a story of connection, memory, and the beauty found in both the whole and the shattered.
Title Mehek
Program Set Design
World Premiere
The Red Theater, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi
Date 7 February 2024
Choreography & Performance
Aakash Odedra & Aditi Mangaldas
Original Music Score and Sound Design Nicki Wells
Musicians Ashish Gangani, Faraz Ahmed, Hiren Chate & Nicki Wells
Dramaturg Karthika Naïr
Set design Tina Tzoka
Costume for Aakash Odedra Digvijay Singh
Costume for Aditi Mangaldas Aditi Mangaldas (inspired by older costumes by Sandhya Raman, Raw Mango and Aakash Odedra)
Lighting design Fabiana Piccioli
Assistant to the set designer Stavros Balis
Photography Angela Grabowska