My trip to India, Gujarat

Garba-Fusion research - a research of Garba and contemporary

My journey

Hello once more, everyone! Today, I am delighted to share my experience of a 20-day trip to Ahmedabad, Gujarat in India. This was made possible by funding from Arts Council England to enhance my creative practice.

Garba, as mentioned in previous posts, originated in Gujarat, making it the ideal place to fully experience its essence.

Having already been in India before and having family and friends there made the learning process much more comfortable and easier. I feel supported throughout the entire trip, a journey to never forget.

Classes...

Marta training Garba at Swaroop Dance Academy

As soon as I landed, I went into taking classes with Swaroop Dance Academy who specialises in teaching Garba to the community during the pre-Navratri season, just some months before the festival.

The previous year, I had already participated in Swaroop Garba classes when I first encountered this folklore. I considered them an excellent Garba academy with profound knowledge and insight. They made me feel so welcome that I decided to attend again this year.

Anil Sargara, director of the Swaroop, taught me the specific names for certain Garba movements and explained that these names are derived from the rural regions they originate from.

Marta and Hemant Kothekar during a lecture about the history of Garba

My excitement and enthusiasm were unstoppable, so I practiced Garba daily.

Therefore, I also took private lessons with Hemant Kothekar, who has vast experience in this area and provided detailed explanations of the historical, symbolical and technical side of Garba. We concentrated on style, technique too.

Taking private lessons with Hemant Sir enabled me to engage in Garba with greater accuracy and address all my questions and uncertainties.

He insisted in the idea that Garba is more than only a technical movement form but an spiritual form of connecting with our inner and universal power.

 I received two Garba certificates showcasing the skills I acquired during my training:

Short training videos...

Here I am presenting some of my training...

Garba Showcase...

I hold the belief that observing is essential for gaining new understanding. Therefore, I was invited to attend Ahmedabad's annual Garba showcase, featuring only selected groups.

The performance was beautiful, with each group showcasing unique approaches to Garba—some focusing on technicality, others on theatricality. A notable aspect observed across all groups was their consistent alignment with the music's beat and the maintenance of a pleasing aesthetic.

Navratri....

Before going back to the UK to continue working in this project, I attended the nine - day festival of Navratri in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. In this festival, as mentioned in previous posts, people from all backgrounds reunite to play Garba together and honour womanhood. It is a devotion to the goddess Durga who defeated a demon and therefore ensured the peace in this world.

Millions of people attend this festival to connect with each other and honour this goddess, also as a representation of the female power.

We participated in Garba outdoors in both rural and urban settings. It was captivating to witness the number of people joining in and the range of ages, from children to the elderly. Everyone was enjoying and sharing the experience together.

Nine days of uninterrupted Garba, watching thousands of others play as if there were no tomorrow. It felt like a ceremony, a ritual of celebration, circling endlessly...

Garba gives me energy, there is something special in it that allows me to keep going and going like a force of nature.

Check here some videos of me during Navratri:

Conclusion...

This journey allowed me to massively grow and improve as a dance artist. It gave me an insight of the amount of possibilities that Garba offers and that can be translated into other creative forms.

This video I am about to present summarizes this incredible learning journey:

Next Post...

Next post I will be researching a new movement language influenced by Garba and contemporary dance styles, a Garba - Fusion I call it.

I will create a solo and accompanying workshop. Follow me in this journey a little bit more.

Keep Updated :)