Aug 27 2026 to Aug 27 2026 7 p.m.

Price: 600

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

WHAT: 5 Arrows by Christopher Gurusamy

WHEN: 27 AUG, 2026 | 7:00 PM

WHERE: Bangalore International Centre

5 Arrows fuses Bharatanatyam with Christopher’s biracial queer perspective, recontextualising and creating a dance work that speaks of love, lust and longing.

Based on ‘Mohamana’, an iconic Carnatic (South Indian) art music piece that comes from Bharatanatyam’s rich history, Christopher plays with the structure of the composition – using himself and his lived history to fill the cracks.

Oscillating between lyrical dance and abstract embodied movement of face, body and gesture, woven together with Christopher’s contemporary sensibilities, the work is equally based on ancient philosophy as it is the lyrics of pop music.

Christopher critically questions his practice in Bharatanatyam, asking how he can create and re-contextualise compositions from the rich history of dance in a meaningful way using himself as the catalyst to create a future for this form in Australia. This is not a work of finding oneself, it is a celebration of what has been found.

This work was premiered in 2025 by Urban Theatre Projects, and was a part of the INDance programming by Sydney Dance Company in 2026 - Receiving 5 starts by - State of the Art Media platform. 

Musicians

Vocal - Brinda Manickavasagam 
Nattuvangam - Sudarsini Devnath 
Violin - TV Sukanya 
Mirdangam - Kiran Pai 

Christopher Gurusamy  

Christopher Gurusamy is an internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer, regarded as a trailblazer of his generation. Born in Perth, at 18 he moved to Chennai in 2005 to study at the globally renowned Bharatanatyam conservatorium Kalakshetra. After graduation, Christopher was a principal dancer with Leela Samson’s Spanda Dance Company and has since carved a niche for himself as a soloist.

He performs in Chennai during the December season including, Madras Music Academy, Krishna Gana Sabha and many others, he has toured the USA, Singapore and UK. he has received awards such as the Narasimachari Endowment - Narada Gana Sabha, Kalavaahini Junior choreographic fellowship and was named Best Dance of 2017 (The New York Times).

Christopher is globally recognised for the rigour of his performative practice, and ability to connect with diverse audiences especially those familiar and unfamiliar with his chosen dance form.

Acknowledgements

Images by Gracie Steindl

Initial support from DanceHouse Melbourne 2023. 

CAAP – Longhouse presentation – 27 November 2024, 

Utp – performance season – 12-13 April 2025 - supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW and the Neilson Foundation.