Dancer Aakash Odedra wearing sand coloured robes and a head scarf, holding a dance pose on a stage, surrounded by falling red rose petals.

3 – 7 Feb

Songs of the Bulbul

Birdsong is fleeting – like dance, it exists only in the present, vanishing as soon as it is sung. Inspired by an ancient Sufi myth, the work tells the story of a bulbul trapped in captivity – a bird longing for spiritual enlightenment. As its final moments draw near, sorrow gives way to serenity; its last song becomes its sweetest.

Songs of the Bulbul by Aakash Odedra intertwines the graceful yet powerful art of Kathak dance with Sufi storytelling, creating a dialogue between the intense physicality of Kathak and the spiritual journey of Sufism. Through a seamless blend of classical Indian music, Sufi poetry and orchestral composition, the work invites audiences into a transformative experience that transcends both physical and emotional boundaries.

Award-winning UK choreographer and dancer Aakash Odedra's performance poses a universal question: will we remain confined to the material world like the caged bird, or will we soar toward liberation and unity with the divine?