Protima

In-Conversation - Q: Reinterpreting a 700-year-old form can be bold, even controversial. How has the Thai classical dance community responded to your contemporary approach, and how do you navigate respect for tradition while pushing its boundaries? A:"In the beginning, the response was not positive. I had very little support, very small audiences, and was often perceived as someone destroying tradition rather than creating from it. But I chose not to spend my energy defending myself. Instead, I focused on continuing to work – spending time in the studio, researching, learning, and creating. My curiosity was always stronger than the resistance around me. For me, respecting tradition does not mean freezing it in time. It means understanding it deeply enough to engage with it critically and honestly. I am not interested in rejecting Thai classical dance; I am interested in understanding how it can continue to live and evolve in dialogue with the contemporary world." -Pichet Klunchun "Speaking ahead of his performance at The Place, he shares how questioning lineage, freeing the body and returning to foundational principles can open new creative futures resonating across cultures, generations and dance practices. In this conversation, Klunchun also speaks about the turning points that shaped No. 60, the challenges of reinterpreting a 700‑year‑old form, and the evolving dialogue between Thai classical dance and global audiences. His insights offer not only a window into his artistic philosophy, but also a wider reflection on how dance traditions across cultures can continue to live, shift and transform." - Protima Chatterjee @protimachatterjee_ READ FULL INTERVIEW ON ABUNDANT ART WEBSITE #linkinbio This performance is presented as part of Queer East – a cross-disciplinary festival that showcases boundary-pushing LGBTQ+ cinema, live arts, and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia and its diaspora communities. Queer East Festival runs until June 6. @queereast #thaidance #khon #queereastfestival2026 @abstraktpublicity @theplacelondon @pichetklunchundancecompany

Throwback - I never formally trained in Manipuri, but I had the honour of adorning this beautiful costume for a dance‑drama as a gesture of respect for the narrative we were bringing to life. The grace and devotional elegance of Manipuri have always filled me with awe, and seeing this photo still gives me goosebumps. Both dance pioneers Uday and Amala Shankar shared a deep admiration for the Manipuri form, so much so that they invited Manipuri Guru Amobi Singh to teach at their Almora institute in the Himalayas, enriching the training with classical manipuri depth and nuance. My first guru ji, Smt. Amala Shankar, was deeply fond of the Manipuri form. I often feel that some of the gentle lyrical quality she later brought into the Uday Shankar style carried echoes of that influence. This costume, generously provided by the producers of the performance made me feel part of a lineage I’ve long admired. A moment of gratitude and the longing to learn the form still lingers. #manipuri #indianclassicaldance #udayshankardancestyle #transcultural #danceheritage

Dance Workshop at Chisenhae dance space with a welcoming, playful and reflective tone: no polished performance, just curiosity and exchange - designed to foster community and discover how our bodies carry memory and care across time and place. We will make more great memories on the floor. Join me on Thursday 12 March. More info and booking link in bio #linkinbio @chisenhaledance #dance #workshop #movement #memories

The magic of winter #paris

An overarching urge for liberation and call for change through Rabindranath Tagore's 'Bandh Bhenge Dao' - a powerful live chorus sung by Tagoreans UK accompanied by an energetic team of musicians @bhavanlondon Photos @kouchaq 'Bandh bhenge dao' means 'Break the dam' literally, which metaphorically translates to break free from the shackels and restrictrictions surrounding us.

Negotiating the space between light and dark! #dance #movement #lightwithin

"Today, comedy as an artform is exploring new directions. Across London and globally, comedians are blending stand-up with storytelling, theatre, and even visual art. The rise of hybrid shows, live podcast recordings, and streaming specials has expanded the genre’s reach and reshaped its aesthetic. Digital platforms like TikTok and YouTube have become launching pads for emerging talent, bypassing gatekeepers and redefining what it means to “make it” in comedy. Meanwhile, venues like Soho Theatre are responding to this shift by curating lineups that embrace experimentation and diversity, not just in performer demographics but in form and tone." Read our special feature and linked reviews on Abundant Art Website - Special Features and Reviews sections. #linkinbio @sohotheatre @sohotheatreindia @spaceprincejulio @mojorojo @swampwitch._ @protimachatterjee_

Every corner of India has its very own rich tapestry, and I feel proud to be a part of this unifying cultural legacy. Here is my little impromptu collab on a quiet corner at the entrance of Jaswant Thada. It was a heartfelt response to an incredible musician playing 'mast qalandar' on his Ravanahatha. The Jaswant Thada stands in the Royal funeral grounds downhill from the imposing Meharangarh fort in Jodhpur - the fort that embodies resilience against foreign siege, held strong by the Marwars. The state of Rajasthan, with its various kingdoms, was ruled and managed by local royalty until independence. Perhaps that has left the state with the closest connection to India's cultural and historical past as the royals patronised local art, culture, music. The street artists here reflect the common thread of a country and resonate with the voices of its past and its diverse communities - through art and culture. A vast nation that is diverse in its regional language, food, architecture, and folk traditions, yet unified through its shared history, art and culture. Many came to its lands. Some ravaged it and left. Some stayed and adapted and became part of it. There were immense losses, some gains - the country majorly left off balance. However, the nation stood up, stood tall, and through the preservation efforts of the last 78 years, what the communities retained are their very own folk memories and classical traditions. The formidable treasure trove of Rajasthani art, culture, dance, and music is a great example of these preserved memories that have held its people through the storms. The legendary #UdayShankar, the founder of a modern Indian dance movement in the early 1900s, spent his formative years in this state and drew inspirations from its folk forms. Being a part of this dance gharana I felt an instant connection. Every time I passed a street performer, whether it was a dancer, musician or puppetry artist. I was drawn in organically and sometimes also responded through my movement, surreal moments that felt very real. A clip from my recent visit to #Rajasthan #Indianindependanceday #15august

The Kalbeli dance from the Sapera community! The initial short aalap is heart rending evoking vast arid landscapes. Thanks to organisations like #lokdharohar Rajasthan has been in the forefront of preserving India’s folk memories! #bagorekihaveli

Ensemble Festival presented by Certain Blacks has grown into a vibrant platform for showcasing innovative and socially engaged performances. Over the years, it has become a space where artists and audiences come together to explore themes of connection, transformation, and storytelling. Speaking to some of the artists in the run-up to Ensemble Festival 2025, a recurring theme emerges: the profound power of physicality as a medium for connection and transformation. FULL FEATURE WITH ARTIST INTERVIEWS ON #linkinbio @abstraktpublicity @certainblacks @mishweaver @nandidevi @tiagofonsecaoficial @tccdancingpots @tillyingramtheatre @ramshacklicious @story_telling_cranes #ensemblefestival2025 #circus #dance #physicaltheatre #streetart #outdoorfestival

Dance Legends-BA2 Trinity Laban Unfettered Mind Presented at the @trinitylaban Theatre Sharing a brief extract from the production staged on 24 June 2025 performed by a wonderful bunch of dedicated and curious learners. They spent 5 weeks learning a new form - Uday Shankar dance style and the choreographic piece. It was amazing to see them adapt and absorb the nuances of the form. It has been an absolute joy working with the students and seeing them soar with purpose and confidence. For Uday Shankar, dance was a holistic experience, a philosophy, a way of life. This belief gave his work a rare vitality, where each movement is infused with purpose, and every expression carries emotional weight Drawing movement inspiration from Indian iconographies, temple sculptures, folk traditions, and lived experiences, he encouraged dancers to interpret movement in deeply personal ways—making each performance not just an act of storytelling, but an act of truth. Rather than adhering to codified gestures alone, his method allowed emotion to arise from within the dancer, shaped by their unique understanding of the theme. In doing so, his work continues to resonate. His work becomes a bridge: between tradition and innovation, between the dancer’s inner world and the audience’s perception.  'Unfettered Mind' (V2) is a contemporary interpretation reimagined through the lens of Uday Shankar's 'Man and Machine' Music by @shammipithia Lights by Rachel Messer Costumes: Recreated by Trinity Laban Costume/ conceptualised by Tanusree Shankar. Production managed by Rachel Shipp Staged and arranged by Protima Chatterjee-Abundant Art Dancers - Amber Heatrick, Lucia Pierlot, Samara Toussaint, Heidi Thomas, Brodie Boyle, Sheldon Ridge, Beining Tian, Marcello Berry, Tsz Celia Cheung, Frieda Callf, Bethany Tolhurst-Mcwattgreen, Elizabete Bele, Edward Cook, Valentina Lortscher, Poppy Walcot, Kirstin Lindsay, Xuejin Zora Jin, Pianpian (Penny) Wang ,Sophia Chang-Trejos Footage from technical rehearsals 23.06.25 @elizabete.bele @lucia_hope7 @blossom.of.ore @_brodieboyle @ambereenox @pianpianwang75 @edcookx @marcelloberry.dance @kirstin__lindsay @frieda_callf @sophia_changgg @heidit

There’s nothing quite like the exhilaration of achieving harmony between mind and movement after weeks of focused technique training! @trinitylaban #udayshankardancestyle #indiandance #uk #london