Creation Date

October 2016

Description

In Written in Water, we explore the concept of spiritual ascension through the 2nd century Indian board game Paramapadam (precursor to Snakes & Ladders), 12th century Sufi text The Conference of the Birds, and Hindu mythological story Ksheerabthi Madanam (Churning of the Seven Seas). We have drawn upon The Conference of the Birds to frame the arc of Written in Water. The protagonists of this Sufi epic progress through seven valleys, representing states of being. With Written in Water, we mirror their journey through a world of psychological complexity, traversing experiences of spiritual longing, human love, unity with others, detachment from material life, and finally ultimate oneness with the divine.
In the first movement, we experience human life, love, and struggle, explored through the framework of the board game Paramapadam. The gameboard serves as a physical and metaphorical framework through which the seekers/dancers navigate snakes and ladders representing the heights of ecstasy and the depths of longing. In the second movement, we
explore the human quest for the divine. The mythological story of Ksheerabthi Madanam is a metaphor for a world in chaos. Amidst this dynamic tension between good and evil, Vishnu stands for the perfect center toward which humans strive. In the final movement, we journey toward transcendence and unmediated union with the divine.
-- from Ranee Ramaswamy & Aparna Ramaswamy in the performance program
 

Music

Musical Score Development: Amir ElSaffar, Aparna Ramaswamy, Ranee Ramaswamy & the Musical Ensemble

Related Productions

Written in Water (2018), June 20 – 24 2018

Work Credits

Prema Ramamurthy (composer)
Amir Elsaffar (composer)
Aparna Ramaswamy (choreographer)
Ranee Ramaswamy (choreographer)