About The Event
‘Shifting Syllables’ is a performance that attempts to reflect on the repercussions which arise from having one`s name, a significant part of one`s identity, subject to scrutiny in diverse social and cultural environments. It uses the concept of a name as a medium to understand the reality of a society we live in, where one person’s birth privileges transform into another’s disadvantages. `Shifting Syllables` was first created for `American A-Liverary` - a project by American Center, Kolkata and Pickle Factory Dance Foundation, Calcutta.
This performance seeks to delve into the experiences of two Indian poets and two Asian-American poets about their names, utilising their poetry as the primary source of reference. The four chosen poems are `On listening to your teacher take attendance` by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, ‘An Introduction’ by Kamala Das, ‘Mujhe mere naam se Pukaro’ by Alka Verma and `Cardamom Vowels` by Aruni Wijesinghe. The poems reflect on the struggle of an individual in finding acceptance within a milieu marked by cultural differences or persistent patriarchal social conventions. This struggle is attempted to be embodied by the performer.
