Taking place at Brisbane’s Thomas Dixon Centre this month, 'Global Fusion – India' is an Indian cultural experience like none before.
Through food, drink and most predominantly, music and movement, this production looks to take its audience on a journey through the exotic, passionate, and rich culture of India as the country prepares to celebrate the festival of Deepavali/Diwali.
Approached by Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre (BEMAC), to put the show together was creative producer and musician Menaka Thomas. “It’s a collaboration with the Queensland Ballet,” Menaka begins. “Dilshani [Weerasinghe], Director of the Queensland Ballet, she herself is of Indian heritage so I think she was particularly wanting one of the shows to showcase India but specifically have a theme that reflected the festival of Diwali, which is happening in late October.
“The theme and show’s title is ‘Into The Light’, so it’s a reflection of the celebration of Diwali, the festival of lights.”
With a background in classical south Indian singing (which she was taught by her mother), Menaka’s own artistic contribution to 'Global Fusion – India' sees her honing her traditional roots to include Western elements. “[I’ve] taken that classical Indian style and more contemporary sounds and world music,” she explains. “I call myself an Indian fusion singer because I don’t sing in the traditional format anymore.
“I’m born and bred in Australia, but I’ve got this Indian heritage, so this is my way of bringing the worlds together and is more suited to my way of being.”
Menaka has been careful that the performances at 'Global Fusion – India' will provide the best representation of Diwali and the greater Indian culture. “How I’ve put the show together it is using the different metaphors of light – for example, if you think of the traditional clay lamps, it’s very stable, meditative, peaceful. Then we have lights as colours, lights as energy, and then it gets more personal, light as love, light as hope.
“I explore the different not only visual representations of light but also the metaphors of what light represents in our life.”
The bulk of the show is music based, with Menaka set to share the stage with several other performers. Tabla player Dheeraj Shrestha, percussionist Tsoof Baras, and renowned Bansuri (bamboo flute) player Darshil Shah will represent the traditional Indian elements of the live show, while pianist Meg Burstow brings the Western influence thus rounding out the fusion musical group. “We weave the sounds and performers in and out according to what the [light] metaphor informs,” Menaka explains. “We’ve also invited in an Indian fusion dance group [Nishaan Dance Group] who will perform more of a folk dance [Garba] which is very popular around this time of month in the Indian calendar.”
“The intention of the show is to celebrate Diwali – the music has been chosen to represent those intentions,” Menaka continues. "The Garba has been selected because of its significance this time of year, but the second dance is a love song, still related to the metaphor of light, about love and passion, bringing in the traditional elements of Diwali where it’s relevant.”
Attending this event will educate and entertain, but ultimately, it’s Menaka’s hope that people will be taken on a journey. “I’m hoping there will be a visual aspect [to the show] as well,” she says. “Thomas Dixon Centre has an amazing capacity for audio-visual facilities, so I want to be able to take [the audience] on a journey.
“I want them to be able to feel the different emotions that are coming from the storytelling as well as through the music. I want them to come on a journey and be inspired.”
'Global Fusion – India' is on at Thomas Dixon Centre (Brisbane) on 29 October.
