ASTITVA
Jaivant Patel Company
About ASTITVA
A journey of South Asian Gay Identity, Desire and Love.
ASTITVA, meaning existence, is a powerful and evocative dance production by award-winning choreographer Jaivant Patel, offering a rare and moving portrayal of British-Indian gay men.
This ground-breaking work explores the complex realities of balancing tradition, culture, and identity, shedding light on the struggles and triumphs of navigating sexuality, cultural expectations, and love in a world that often doesn’t make space for you. Delving into universal emotions, ASTITVA brings queer South Asian stories to the forefront, inviting audiences to connect, reflect, and celebrate the beauty of being human.
From navigating sexuality under the weight of cultural expectations to the yearning for love, belonging and embracing oneself, these personal stories come alive with a gripping intensity and grace that resonate deeply with the human condition.
Whether you’re drawn to dance, storytelling, or the exploration of diverse identities, ASTITVA offers something profound and deeply relatable. It holds up a mirror to our own lives, our families, and our shared values, while daring us to imagine new possibilities.
The performance on 3 March will be followed by a Post Show Talk hosted by Ben Wright.
About the artist
Jaivant Patel Company (JPCo) is one of the leading voices amplifying South Asian LGBTQIA+ narratives on the national and international cultural landscape. Through its bold productions, JPCo provokes dialogue that reclaim and celebrate the myriad of intersectionalities of contemporary British-South Asian identity. JPCo’s work advocates for the increased representation and visibility of South Asian practices, artforms and aesthetics, informing the creation of multi-layered contemporary work that reimagines contexts, to say something powerful and resonant for audiences used to a diversity of cultural influences.
@jaivantpatelco
Cast & Creatives
Concept, Direction & Choreography: Jaivant Patel
Performers: Dominic Coffey, Amar Bains, Mithun Gill
Composer: Alap Desai
Lighting Designer: K J
Outside Eyes: Ben Wright, Eva Martinez
Consultant Producer: Spin Arts
Marketing & PR: Hardish Virk
Costumes: Javed Memon, Jaivant Patel
ASTITVA is funded by Arts Council England and supported by FABRIC, Bradford Arts Centre, The Place, Birmingham Rep, Arena Theatre and Sir Barry Jackson Trust