Acknowledging the burgeoning potential of contemporary movement arts in India, this festival endeavors to cultivate opportunities and fortify international collaborations to present innovative, thought-provoking original works. It seeks to curate groundbreaking experiences through site-specific performances, residencies, masterclasses, workshops, discussions, and collaborative projects involving artists from India, Switzerland, Korea, Canada, Norway, Italy, the UK, Austria, Spain, Germany, Japan, Australia, and numerous other nations. In essence, the festival promises something exceptional for every attendee.

Through strategic collaborations and partnerships among artists, organizations, educational institutions, and a network of supporters, the Attakkalari India Biennial has been reimagined as a community-centric event. The festival’s events will span throughout January – March 2024, supplemented by pre-festival activities such as building partnerships with universities, educational institutions, and cultural organizations—a process that has already commenced. Leveraging its robust artistic and technical capabilities, the festival will offer select workshops, conferences, talks, and film screenings both in-person and online for broader accessibility.

In anticipation of the Biennial, Attakkalari will spearhead significant Skills Development Initiatives such as a comprehensive 2-year Diploma Course in Movement Arts & Pedagogy, and a condensed 6-month course, Sankshipta Course, tailored for working professionals and full-time students. Attakkalari’s Mobile Academy team has already forged relationships with Srishti Manipal Institute of Arts, Design and Technology, Christ University, R.V. University and many schools to provide them with a range of dance and movement arts projects. As part of the Government of Karnataka’s Unboxing BLR initiative, Attakkalari has initiated a series of performances, international workshops, regular classes, and community engagement programs throughout December 2023. These educational efforts aim to amplify awareness about dance and movement arts, nurturing a cohort of young talents bridging the gap between the professional performing arts scene and education. This initiative seeks to ensure broader student involvement in the festival’s activities.

Centrally located in Bangalore, Attakkalari has three large, well-equipped dance studios with state-of-the-art facilities, including sprung wooden dance floors, linoleum mats, mirrors, an intimate black box theatre, a conference room, a café, reception area, administrative facilities, and a fully furnished guest house. Collaborating with educational partners and regular venues such as Ranga Shankara, Bangalore International Centre, Rangamandala Theatre at Attakkalari, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore, and Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, the festival presents a diverse array of spaces for performances, workshops, film screenings, and conferences.

Furthermore, cultural partners such as Dept. of Tourism (Karnataka), ICCR, Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore, Spanish Embassy, Norwegian Embassy, Institut Francaise, Alliance Francaise, Pro Helvetia, InKo Centre, British Council, among others, have pledged support for the festival. Additionally, through our collaboration with TransMedia Technologies, known for their impeccable technical expertise and top-notch equipment, we aim to deliver flawless technical services for the festival’s events. Our production team is poised to handle multiple creations and activities, while our dedicated marketing and publicity team will ensure the biennial’s extensive reach and visibility across various media channels, including social and online platforms.