In 2015 and 2016, Independent Dance embarked on a joint development initiative with Gati Dance Forum (New Delhi) which fed independent dance practice in India and the UK through artistic exchange.
Gati Dance Forum is an independent arts organization working in the field of contemporary dance. Founded in 2007 in response to the needs of the professional dance community, the Gati Forum has actively searched for avenues to develop greater opportunities and infrastructure for contemporary dance in India.
Artists from both countries travelled to take part in projects at Gati Dance Forum (GDF) and ID. Residencies, performances, discussions and workshops created opportunities for making, exploration and development. Alongside this, ID and GDF engaged in a programme of mutual organisational development. The collaboration tested interventions to enhance contemporary independent dance practice in both countries through artistic exchange, with the hope that it would leave a lasting legacy in both countries.
ID continues to work with a number of artists involved in this project including Padmini Chettur and Marina Collard.
Key exchanges:
December 2015
Emerging artist Mirra visits the UK, taking part in WinLab with Susan Rethorst, performing her piece According to Official Sources…at Independent Dance, and joining the independent artists group LOCUS in Ipswich for an afternoon of practice exchange and discussion.
Spring 2016
Mandeep Raikhy undertook research in India about festival exhibition outside of metropolitan centres.
February 2016
Kirsty Alexander, co-director of ID, visits Gati Dance Forum to discuss and explore approaches to training, artist development and organisational development with Mandeep Raikhy and GDF artists. Outcomes from this exchange are recorded by choreographer and dance film artist Rajyashree Ramamurthi and published online.
June 2016
UK-based artist Alicia Kidman joins the Gati Summer Dance Residency 2016, and shares the resulting work in progress at GDF. Artist Marina Collard attends the residency as a mentor.