With Temple of Desirethe Australian company Karma Dance offers a rereading of Indian myths, coupled with a reappropriation of traditional dance. The result is bewitching, dynamic and deeply joyful, despite the gravity of the subject.
The story lies in a few sentences, whispered by a voice off At the start of the show. The narrative thread appears later between each painting, while leaving the public a great freedom of understanding. With energy and sensitivity, the 17 dancers on stage question religion, sexuality, the definition of their identity and the fights inherent in these sometimes painful questions.
It is true that contemporary artistic creation regularly affects these themes, but the form proposed in Temple of Desire is radically different from what we are used to seeing on Western scenes. The aesthetics can even lose the spectator as it is rich in symbols that will remain illegible for non-specialists.
The Temple of Desire show is presented as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival.
Photo: offered by company Karma Dance/James Henry
Between finesse and synchronicity
Production shows an explosive visual wealth, pushed in particular by the number of people on the Aki Studio set. We particularly appreciate the synchronicity and precision of group paintings, but also the finesse of more intimate passages. The whole is bathed in various music, ranging from repetitive mantras to raging talas dotted with electronic sounds.
Like a large number of shows played during a festival Fringeyou should expect a few technical imperfections during the representation; Here it affects musical sequences. But these details do not prevent seeing that Temple of Desire is an exceptional creation which deserves that a much larger room is interested in welcoming it in the future.
Temple of Desire by the company Karma Dance is presented to the Aki Studio of Native Earth Performing Arts On the occasion of the Toronto Fringe Festival until July 11, 2025.
