Black Waters

A Groundbreaking Original Work

Capturing the diverse spirit of multi-cultural Britain for nearly forty years, pre-eminent contemporary ensemble Phoneix Dance Theatre continues into the new decade by shining a light on often overlooked cultural narratives and the company's rich Carribean history at large. Their latest work Black Waters sees Artistic Director Sharon Watson collaborate with Kolkata-based dance group Ryhtmosaic for a vibrant fusion of western contemporary and classical kathak Indian dance. 

Black Waters explores the might of the British colonial force, its commodification of people and the resulting blend of cultures/fractured identities people face today. Visceral movement conjures a timeline from the 18th century,  which features a slave ship's attempts to claim the insurance on the lives of those washed overboard, as well as the story of the Kala Pani Prison - the jail used by the British to incarcerate Indian freedom fighters 100 years later.