Open Rehearsal | Abandhana: Unfettered

Abandhana (Pāli - Unfettered) is a dance-music-theatre immersion into the heart-wrenching feminist voices in Therigāthā (Songs of Buddhist Nuns), the earliest anthology of women’s writings from the 6th century BCE.

Virtuosic Bharatanatyam movement vocabulary draws parallels between the unapologetic choice of the Theris to ‘renounce’ and the nuanced choice of contemporary women to ‘renegotiate’ all that impedes. Live musicians are woven into the earthy spatial narrative - multi-percussions, cello melodies and evocative pre-modern poetry in Pāli language are layered atop a visceral soundscape marrying Indian Music and Tibetan sonic textures.

This open rehearsal offers a rare window into the work-in-progress. Join us on 3rd July between 6 and 8 pm, Studio 3, The Place

Cast:
Divya Ravi - Bharatanatyam
Sharan Subramanian - Singer
Liz Hanks - Cellist
Abhiram Sahathevan - Percussionist

https://divyaravi.com/

Performance details:

Abandhana brings together cellist Liz and choreographer-dancer Divya Ravi in an unlikely, deeply felt artistic conversation - rooted in the feminist voices of the Therīgāthā (Songs of Buddhist Nuns), the earliest anthology of women's writings, from the 6th century BCE.

Abandhana is an artistic reminder to seek illumination, freedom, and agency barrelling through discrimination, violence, grief, and guilt in a fragmented world. It is inspired by the single-mindedness of Theri-s to release all the fetters that held them back.

Liz and Divya will share an insight into their creative process and what it means to collaborate across forms while finding a common language.

Come watch them think out loud in sound and movement on July 2, 2026, at 5:30 pm.