Repertory

FIPA's exciting speciality in its repertory is a number of distinctive full length Tagore dance-operas. These are performed using an accessible mix of the original languages and English. Also in repertory is the challenging modernism of the company represented by FIPA's highly creative inspirational contemporary British South Asian pieces. In addition, FIPA offers bold solo works that range from a diversity of Indian classical styles to innovative solo work.

Classical

Tasher Desh - Tagore

Tasher Desh is one of Tagore's most famous dance operas, a unique genre he developed that was influenced by Western opera. It is inspired by Alice in Wonderland and is a satire on the rigidity of the class systems of the British Raj and India. Tagore scripted and composed melodies of the piece which was first performed in Kolkata in 1923. FIPA will be producing the third and final version of the work shown in 1938.

An Indian Prince, frustrated by his restricted life in his palace, goes in search of discovery accompanied by his less adventurous friend the Merchant. They are shipwrecked on the Land of Cards where all the inhabitants are cards that abide by the strictest of rules. The Prince challenges their inflexible existence and attempts to lead them towards the road of spontaneity. Gradually they yield to his charismatic charm and reveal the humanity of their souls.

Cast 10 dancers

Choreography Hi Ching, Cid Shaha. Ash Mukherjee, Ni Made Pujawati

Musical Direction Dr. Ananda Gupta

Musicians / Narrators
Option 1 — specially pre-recorded music and narration
Option 2 — 2 live narrators with pre-recorded music
Option 3— up to 2 live narrators with 4 singers and 6 musicians

Running Time 2 hours

Shapmochan (Curse Redemption) – Tagore

This timeless dance-opera was one of Tagore's later works. It is a story of the realisation of true love through separation, suffering and sorrow. Love tormented by desire is banished from love's paradise and what is beautiful in its heavenly form turns ugly in its earthly one.

Based on a Buddhist story, Sourosen, Indra's in court musician Heaven is banished along with his beloved Madhusree. They are both reborn on earth as the disfigured king Aruneshwar and the beautiful princess Kamalika. They are brought together and separated as the CURSE casts its spell. When they finally realise that beauty is skin deep and true love dwells in the deepest corners of one's heart, they are reunited. The CURSE lifts. Love and harmony is restored.

First performance 28th July 2007 ‘A Season of Bangla Drama' Brady Arts Centre

Cast 7 to 9 dancers

Choreography Hi Ching, Indrani Datta, Cid Shaha

Musical Direction Dr. Ananda Gupta and Pandit Biplab Mondal

Musicians / Narrators
Option 1 — specially pre-recorded music and narration
Option 3 — up to 4 live singer/narrators and 6 musicians

Running Time 2.5 hours

Padavalis of Bhanusingh - Tagore

Padavalis of Bhanusingh: Radha Aur Robi is a soiree examining the evolution of the Vaisnav Padavalis in India and how this influenced the early works of Tagore. These melodies and verses have a universality and resemblance to Sufism. It reflects the different aspects of love as personified by Radha and Krishna, and the subtle nuances embodying Tagore's personal life. The verses are sung in rare languages such as Maithli and Brajboli in the original north Indian Bandish classical styled pieces.

First performance 4th June 2007 Nehru Centre

Cast 4 to 6 dancers

Choreography Cid Shaha, Indrani Datta

Musical Direction Dr. Ananda Gupta

Musicians / Narrators
Option 1 — specially pre-recorded music and narration
Option 2 — up to 3 live singer/narrators and 6 musicians

Running Time 1 hour

Solos, duets and group (Dance)

Our artists are able to perform in the classical dance forms of Kathak, Bharata Natyam, Manipuri, Odissi and Orissi. Dances can be arranged and choreographed for any performance or event.

Solos, duets and group (Music)

Our singers and musicians offer a wide range of vocal and musical traditions for all kinds of performances and events. Enquiries for any type of classical music performance are welcome.

Contemporary

Bidrohi

This fiercely dramatic piece is an epic poem of rebellion penned by Bangladesh's national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam The poet plunges through an immortal canvas of contrasting moods in waves of experiences, shades and nuances. Dancers bring to life the intensive imagery of the piece as it erupts and ebbs.  Every performance is different as the artists improvise their journeys. The performance is in Bengali and English. The piece is designed to be flexible and participatory for any number of principal performers from 3 - 5 and/or 15 – 25 community participants depending on the venue or site.

First Performance 14th July 2007 ‘A Season of Bangla Drama' Brady Arts Centre

Cast 3 - 5 dancers with the option of 15 - 25 community participants

Dance Director Hi Ching with improvised choreography by dancers

Music / Vocals Pre-recorded with Dr. Ananda Gupta, Tanusree Guha

Running Time 60 mins

Shraddhanjali

This powerful piece is represents a number of selected Hindi poetry. The poets evoke the joys and pain of life, its ambivalence and its turmoil. Through the mesmerising performance of the dancers, the lyrics are vividly brought to life. Every performance is unique as the artists improvise their journeys. In Hindi and English, the piece is designed to be flexible and participatory for any number of principal performers from 3 - 5 and/or 15 – 25 community participants depending on the venue or site.

First Performance 12th July 2007 London Mela

Cast 3 - 5 dancers with the option of 15 - 25 community participants.

Dance Director Hi Ching with improvised choreography by dancers

Music / Vocals Pre-recorded with Dr. Ananda Gupta, Tanusree Guha

Running Time 44 mins

3 Jewels

The 3 Jewels of Buddhism are Buddha, His Teaching and His Followers. After numerous incarnations, Buddha reaches his final incarnation as Prince Siddhartha. He lives his life sheltered from all pain and suffering until one day, he ventures out of his palace and sees the Four Signs which lead him to Enlightenment and the end of his cycle of reincarnations.

First performance 24th April 2007 Nehru Centre

Cast 3 dancers

Choreography Hi Ching with improvised choreography by dancers

Music Pre-recorded track by Hi Ching

Vocal Dr. Ananda Gupta

Running Time 35 mins.

Solos, duets and group (Dance / Music)

Original works choreographed and composed by our artists creatively contemporise elements from classical styles. Our repertory consist of performances for indoor or outdoor venues which can be performed singly or programmed to the particular requirements of any organisation or festival.

We are inspired by the demands of new projects, site-specific or otherwise and will enthusiastically embrace all radical and exciting challenges.

Folk

We have in our repertory an extensive selection of the more popular folk dances which are an expression of folk culture and seasonal celebrations.

These include:

Popular

Community

FIPA uses the arts as a catalyst for social and economic growth. We believe that our artists working with the community offers them a wonderful and often rare opportunity for the understanding of focus, commitment, preparation, responsibility and cooperation at a quality exampled by professionals.

Our projects are designed with appropriate partners to serve targeted communities through a multicultural, fun approach, helping participants to value and build on their heritage, artistic abilities, confidence and creative faculties. Projects invariably aim towards a final thrilling production for audiences that include friends, family and members of the community.

Binderella

In autumn 2006 Ocean New Deal for Communities (Ocean NDC) worked in partnership with FIPA and River Cultures Festival to engage people from the Ocean Estate in Tower Hamlets, to participate in an exciting new concept. Over six weeks children and young people, their families and friends from the Ocean area took part in developing a Bollywood themed panto. The production of Binderella staged at Central Foundation School in December to an audience of over 100 people from the community was a resounding success. The project engaged a whole range of people from across the community, from young and old there was a role for all those interested.

Working alongside professional artists, individuals had the opportunity to gain invaluable skills. Cast members were made up of students from the local primary and secondary schools, while costume design and set making allowed parents the opportunity to become involved. Those individual's who would rather take a backstage view of the proceedings, were able to learn skills in stage management, lightening and music production.
Such was the success of the project that a further performance took place on 4th April 2007 at the Hackney Empire, offering up the opportunity for participants to showcase their talents to a wider audience. This ‘explosive' (Ocean Eye) performance surpassed all expectations as the cast rose to the occasion of performing for the first time ever, in a well equipped professional theatre.

We were delighted by the enthusiasm the community exhibited throughout the whole process. As a new endeavour we had been cautiously optimistic. This needn't have been the case as the community relished the opportunity to contribute to the development of the production.

Binderella was widely subscribed to, with interest from both sexes, offering up the opportunity to work with mixed sex groups in environments acceptable to culturally sensitive families. It also created a sense of fun and ownership, giving all members of the community the chance to be involved either in the actual production or as audience members offering their support.

The success of Binderella highlighted a need in the area to engage with people's creativity, tap into the diversity of the community and establish a sense of pride in their heritage.

Cast 60 children and young people 8-18 years

Choreography Cid Shaha

Music Bollywood songs

Running Time 1 hour 40 mins

Dance of the Cobra

This was an exciting concept of marrying a range of musical and dance styles plus stiltwalking to create a fusion Bollywood outdoor musical.

Building upon the success of Binderella and to maintain the communities interest in the arts, with Ocean NDC and River Cultures Festival as collaborators, a summer arts programme, offering the community the opportunity to participate in a series of arts based workshops, contributed towards the staging of Dance of the Cobra.

This new production was written and choreographed by the team behind the successful Binderella with daily workshops in August and September culminating in a performance on 8th September 2007 at Shandy Park. Rehearsals took place at Arbour Youth Centre who offered in kind support. The project was funded by Ocean Estate NDC, River Cultures Festival, with additional funding from Arts Council England.

Participants 18 young people 7-18 years

Choreography Cid Shaha, Hi Ching and boys 15-18 years.

Music Composed by Art Fazil and Hi Ching

Vocals Graciella Rodriguez, Tanushree Guha, Art Fazil

Running Time 30 mins