- for children in conflict zones
Contemporary Dance based on Kathak
Commissioned by: NATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, Mumbai
In collaboration with: SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF INDIA
Premiere: Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, Mumbai, 31st October and 1st November 2026.
Childhood - interrupted. Silenced. Scattered across borders.
Millions of children exist in the shadows of war - displaced, unseen, unheard.
Wounded, orphaned, massacred.
What remains when laughter fades?
It is a story of absence. Of what is lost. Of what still lingers.
WHAT does this hatred say about us?
HOW are we accepting this inhumanity?
WHY would the world remain silent?
WHERE do we go from here?
Creative Team
Concept & Choreography: ADITI MANGALDAS
Mentor: MORAG DEYES
Set Design: MANISH KANSARA
Light Design: RYAN JOSEPH STAFFORD
Music Composer: RUSHIL RANJAN
Music Conductor: MELVIN TAY
Western Classical Musicians: SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF INDIA
Indian Classical Musicians: FARAZ AHMED (Vocals), ASHISH GANGANI (Pakhawaj) & YASH GANGANI (Tabla)
Costume Design: URVASHI KAUR
Costume Realisation: URVASHI KAUR STUDIO
Danced By: Aditi Mangaldas, Anindita Acharjee, Aamrapali Bhandari, Manoj Sonagra, Deepannita Sarkar, Gourav Jawda, Harendra Kumar Bhushan, Gaurav Shridhar, Praveen Prasad, Ashmita Aich, Moumita Ghosh and Sanskriti Pathak.
Creative Development: DEEPAK KURKI SHIVASWAMY
Technical Director: CHRISTOPHER FLUX
Photo and Video Documentation: ADARSH PRATHAP
R&D Host: ODDBIRD THEATRE, New Delhi Tech Residency Host: NATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, Mumbai
Production: Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company & The Drishtikon Dance Foundation