Meera Patel

Excited to share pictures from our preview performances of Attuning at Bradford Arts Centre! 🌌🪐🌌🪐🌌 Guided by Hopper, a mediator between realms, audiences journey through the alternative world, Tanmaatra, meeting elemental characters: Image 1: Hopper, a 3-bodied character played by Raji Gopalakrishnan, Natasja Desir, and Mira Salat, stand in their tour guide uniform of beige jumpsuits and colourful neckers. The photo is taken from the perspective of an audience member gathered with others in a loose circle in front of Hopper. Hopper is BSL signing and speaking to the audience, illuminated in an otherwise dimly lit space with blue and pink lighting. Image 2: Chef Kalonji, played by Parbati Chaudhury, a stone-bodied matriarch who cooks from memory stored within her layered form of gathered ancestral knowledge. The camera joins audiences sat at ground level, looking up to Kalonji on a raised platform holding a pointed hand pointed beside her cheek. Her molten red body stands out in front of a warm orange backdrop. Her torso down to her ankles has a texture that is uneven with folds and knots; Image 3: Daanu, played by Maryam Shakiba , a primordial aquatic being whose pulsing centre releases movement in flowing currents. Daanu's deep blue torso and spirited gaze are lifted under a soft pink glow. Audience members hold deep blue tentacles that catch the light as they extend from Daanu’s waist; and Image 4: Lumyoti, played by Shivaangee Agrawal, a carrier of light whose geometric movement radiates from their central axis. Their body is covered in pleated layers in shades of yellow, which collect in a spiral in front of their chest. Audience members sit relaxed, some reclining on yellow cushions around Lumyoti who skims their hands across their torso. Their eyes are closed and chin lifted, giving a sense of peaceful stillness in their expression. This project is commissioned by @bdartscentre and supported by @pdsw_org ,@pagravdanceco , @attenboroughac , using public funding by the National Lottery through @aceagrams Photos by @wyszynski.karol #Immersive #BVI #d/Deaf #IntegratedAccess #IndianClassicalDance BSL AudioDescription Multisensory Sci-fi

Hey Indi-huns, we’re back to celebrate Holi, the festival of colour at @thedivineldn this March! Joined by special guests: @sarjanasingh @velvet_sparks @thatdosacat @_meera and our very specially allyship spot guests @a_kent_act @albieyoursburlesque Get your early bird tickets now before they fly away!

WE DID 3 PREVIEW SHOWS! Gosh, so much to reflect on and decompress from. But I have to start by acknowledging this incredible team that brought joy, care and boundless talent to rehearsals across London, Bournemouth and Leicester and the intense production week up at @bdartscentre ! THE TEAM: Raji Gopalakrishnan - Performer, BSL Script Writer Natasja Desir - Performer, BSL Script Writer Mira Salat - Performer Maryam Shakiba - Performer, Audio Describer Shivaangee Agrawal - Performer, Audio Describer Parbati Chaudhury - Perfomer, Writer Kaviraj Singh - Haptics Design & Maker, Sound Technician Ben Moon - Lighting & AV Design, Production Manager Kiera Saunders - Costume Maria Piva - Set Dressing Amelia Lander-Cavallo & Al Lander aka Quiplash - Dramaturgy Baluji Shrivastava - sitar, tabla Janan Sathiendran - tabla Ghow Ratnarajah - mridhangam Uttara Joshi - vocals Quiplash - Access Consultancy Chisato Minamimura - d/Deaf Access Mentor Aïsha Kent - Company Access Support Dot Alma - Access Support Sally McNeill - Creative Facilitator Lauryn Prinard - Project Manager Amelia Tan - Producer Video: A team of 15 are sat up the stairs of auditorium seating, wide smiles with some waving hands and others making shapes with their arms and bodies. Images: 1. The team of 15 stand on stage with a deep blue light illuminating the floor around them. An orange to pink gradient backdrop with the words "I had some travel documentation slash work visa issues". Some are sitting on the floor, most standing. They smile with arms reaching around each other bringing them into a closer huddle. 2. The same configuration of the team as image 1 but their huddle is animated by a mix of poses: peace signs reaching out, pouts and boyband cool slouches, points and tongues poking out! 3. Mira, Sally, Raji, Meera, Chisato and Natasja stand in a line smiling at the camera. They are in a studio with black floors, white walls and dance pictures in the background 4. A close up of Uttara and Meera taking a selfie 5. Dot is in the fore right, their rainbow trousers burst colour into the frame. Baluji, Janan and Ghow sit further, on the floor in a line with their instruments.

📣📣 SHOWTIME 📣📣 Tonight we’re opening the doors to Tanmaatra for our series of ‘Attuning’ previews at Bradford Arts Centre! So buckle up for our very special space odyssey alongside your guide Hopper to the geologic kitchen of Chef Kalonji, the oceanic home of Daanu and if we’re lucky, we might even witness the astronomical cycles of Lumyoti 🚀 Don’t miss the boarding! Pssst… if you haven’t already, you still have time to grab yourself a ticket for tonight and tomorrow’s performances. Just follow the link in bio or book at /bdac-attuning This project is a Kala Sangam commission by Bradford Arts Centre @bdartscentre The work’s creation has been supported by Pavilion Arts South West @pdsw_org , Pagrav Dance Company @pagravdanceco , Attenborough Arts Centre @attenboroughac , using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England @aceagrams Image Description: A pink light wash over two performers communicating through tactile BSL. Raji, a brown-skinned woman with dark brown hair, is on the left hand side of the picture. Her left palm is open towards Natasja, a light-skinned woman with blond curly hair who is on the right hand side. Natasja is holding Raji’s hand with her right hand and signing the letter « N » with her left hand on Raji’s palm. A wall of rippling blue fabric, alike the waves of the ocean, is in the background. 📸 by @troudyy #AceFunded #ImmersivePerformance #BVI #d/Deaf #Access #IntegratedBSL #IntegratedAudioDescription #Tactile #AccessibleShow #IndianClassicalMusic #IndianClassicalDance #Bradford2025

✨ JUST ANNOUNCED - MEERA PATEL: ATTUNING ✨ Thurs 4 December | 7:00pm | Fri 5 December | 2pm & 7:00pm | Tickets £1 Join Hopper on a transformative journey to Tanmaatra – an alternative world brought to life through a dynamic, live, and interactive experience. Guided by Tanmaatra’s inhabitants, you’ll move through the elements of rock, water, air, and light in an immersive, multisensory exploration that reimagines and expands the possibilities of Indian classical dance and music. Here the performance is no longer confined to the visual but an embodied, tactile, and sonic encounter. Book your tickets through the link in our bio Alt Text: An audience member holds their hand on a platform with eyes closed. The bottom half of a performer stepping onto their heel is seen on a platform. A yellow light warms the frame. - . . #bradfordartscentre #AceFunded #ImmersivePerformance #BVI #access #IndianClassicalDance #IndianClassicalMusic #integratedBSL #integratedAudioDescription #tactile #AccessibleShow #Bradford2025

🎟️ Tickets now on sale! 🎟️ 🔊 Sound on for the audio described and captioned trailer! We’re bringing previews of Attuning, an immersive dance performance, to Bradford Arts Centre @bdartscentre on: Thursday 4th December, 7pm Friday 5th December, 2pm & 7pm ✨ Attuning immerses audiences in the alternative world of Tanmaatra, inviting them to engage their senses in an interactive, multisensory experience of Indian classical dance and music. 💫 Access: The newly renovated venue has significant access provision. All performances are relaxed and have been made accessible for audiences who are blind, visually impaired, d/Deaf, or have hearing loss through: • Integrated Audio Description • Integrated BSL • Tactile, interactive elements where movement and music can be felt through touch We are offering access support that can meet you at local transport locations e.g. bus stops, train station, taxi drop offs. There will also be dedicated access support staff at the venue to help with navigating around the building and for the duration of the performance too. If you would like this support, you can let us know through the booking page. 🎟️ Book tickets via the link below or in my bio! /whats-on/events/meera-patel-attuning/ Detailed venue accessibility information can be found on this website. If you need help booking, just drop me a message, I’m happy to assist! 💛 This project is a Kala Sangam commission by Bradford Arts Centre. The work’s creation has been supported by Pavilion Dance South West @pdsw_org , Pagrav Dance Company @pagravdanceco , Attenborough Arts Centre @attenboroughac , using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England @aceagrams Trailer by Maya Yoncali @maya_yoncali #AceFunded #ImmersivePerformance #BVI #d/Deaf #access #IndianClassicalDance #IndianClassicalMusic #integratedBSL #integratedAudioDescription #tactile #AccessibleShow #Bradford2025

SAVE THE DATE! Previews of Attuning coming to Bradford Arts Centre @bdartscentre : Thursday 4th December, 7pm Friday 5th December, 2pm Friday 5th December, 7pm The team is excited to welcome you to the alternative world of Tanmaatra. Join us to go beyond observation, attuning deeply in an immersive journey into the inherently multisensory aspects of Indian classical dance and music. All performances are relaxed with integrated audio description, BSL, tactile set, and interactive elements offering a multitude of ways of experiencing this world no matter what your sensory needs, curiosities, and desires. A wholesome way to finish the year! Booking link will be live in 2 days! Spaces are limited so watch this space to know when booking is live. This project is a Kala Sangam commission by Bradford Arts Centre. The work’s creation has been supported by Pavilion Dance South West @pdsw_org , Pagrav Dance Company @pagravdanceco , Attenborough Arts Centre @attenboroughac , using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England @aceagrams 📸 by @chen.warner Image Description: White and blue light wash over a dancer caught in a downward blur of motion. Her black-clad legs are bent as she crouches, heels lifted. The camera peers between two audience members facing her, their shapes softened. She’s connected to them by white fabric panels sweeping through the frame, streaked into motion with her descent. Centered in the poster, the title appears in bold, white, all-caps lettering: “ATTUNING” by Meera Patel Beneath the title are the dates and times of the performances as read in the caption. At the bottom, a row of logos from supporting organizations #AceFunded #ImmersivePerformance #BVI #d/Deaf #access #IndianClassicalDance #IndianClassicalMusic #integratedBSL #integratedAudioDescription #tactile #AccessibleShow #Bradford2025

Dancing on the rooftops of Bradford ✨ 🌈 for BBC’s Dance Passion - with @pagravdanceco performing One Sky 💫 The show is airing: 📺 Sunday 9th November, 8pm on BBC Four Dance Passion celebrates Bradford - its proud industrial roots, its multicultural vibrancy, and the rolling beauty of the Yorkshire landscape - through dance! For me, Bradford is a place very close to my heart. It’s where my maternal family, who came from Malawi, found home - where their community grew, worked within the city’s industries, and began shaping a wonderful mixed Yorkshire-Indian culture and identity. 🇬🇧 It feels very poignant that a flag used to try and make people like me and my family feel like this isn't their home, is flying behind me - whilst I burst with joy and love for a city that for us, is one of belonging, resilience and reinvention. Thank you @church.kate Amy Gibb and the rest of the team for bringing the diverse stories of Bradford together through dance in such a beautiful way! #DancePassion #BBCDance #Bradford #PagravDanceCompany #OneSky #Yorkshire #Dance #Identity #Heritage #British #Indian

A year ago we were soaring with light, air, and spirit ✨️ Performing to a @royalalberthall full to the brim with predominantly south Asians, in unity through music and dance all thanks to the wonderful @abisampa @rushilmusic @orchestralqawwaliproject Every now and again, a performance happens which stays with me through a flutter in my heart, a grounding in my step and a radiance in my being...this was one of those. Thank you a million to @aakashodedra.global , you gave us the opportunity to experience and show just how high we can go when we put our wings together. And to love to my fellow dancers @mira_salat @kesharaii @jainamodasia1 @tulani_ @shree_savani @aarti_dance #orchestra #qawwali #dance #music #kathak #indianclassical

An improvisation with self-touch, pouring and love for all that is everchanging, dying, renewing, blossoming in each moment of this life ♾️ Thank you to @anishkumaruk for this song that has soundtracked my life since last summer ✨️ The video joins me mid-turn my arms cross above my head. A tender touch, pouring love down my body: from one side of my face, down the centre of my chest, around the curve of my hips and thighs, and down my legs. I dip and rise, my whole body compressing and stretching repeatedly as alternate hands scoop up from the ground and reach to the sky. My hand brushes arm to arm and circles my head up and around. Both hands meet my torso in loving contact again before soaring up and locking overhead. Fingers curl, wrists turn, hand like the head of a bird flitting side to side. Hands release and body like liquid spreads out and down, cushioned by knees. A wrist flick picks the body up and pulls it into a bow, head in arm. Whirling away, feet drag, hands trace up torso and fall from shoulders. Arms unravel outwards, a pointed foot lifts from ground, I suspend in the air before dropping into the rectangles of sun shining through windows. Limbs stretched I revolve like a spinning top again. Arms hug body, torso tilts as one hand swipes across face. Pulsing at knees, a hand combs down my face. A spark in my fingers sends me whirling. Parallel arms compress the air between them, gathering and opening out to the side. My head drops back, chest lifts to the sky as I surrender and release. The return of the musical beat brings steps and hops before a foot flicks to the side landing in a lunge, legs twist and untwist to stand. My arms scoop and lift me onto my tip toes, my side body elongated as I teeter on the edge of the rectangles of sun beaming on the floor. Hinging at my hips, my upper body drapes parallel to the ground. Arms like wings furl, lifting me upright. One by one they lock at shoulders straight in front of my chest and I pour forward parallel to ground again. The video ends mid-movement as an impulse curves my back body, I roll up #soloresearch #audiodescription #draft #moving #writing #sensing #feeling

Amazing tour of Kattam Katti came to an end in Bangalore. Thank you to @urja76 and the whole team of Kattam Katti whose endless work made this show and tour enjoyable. Here's to the next tour :) #banaglore #mumbai #IndiaDiaries #indiatour #chennai #Ahmedabad #kites #festival #kathak #contemporary #fusion #sweatfest

Show 3 at the amazing @nataraniamphitheatre Full house and what an amazing crowd to perform to, looking up into the night-time sky. #amhedabad #natarani #tour #India #uk #dance #kites #festival #travellogs