South Asia has a rich tradition of narrative storytelling, where poetry and movement are deeply intertwined. “Mirroring Gestures” is a collaboration between Bay Area artists Sophia Naz, a poet, and Tara Pandeya, a dancer, who bridge generations and artistic disciplines as stepmother and stepdaughter. This performance fuses original poetry and dance to explore themes of origin, migration, destruction, seeking and transcendence—offering a contemporary interpretation of ancient storytelling traditions.
Structured around the five elements—Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether—each segment evokes a visceral journey through personal and collective histories. The interplay between voice and movement creates a powerful dialogue between language, rhythm, and embodied storytelling.
The program will conclude with a 15-minute Q&A, inviting audiences to engage in a deeper conversation about the creative process and themes explored.
Performance Breakdown:
1. Earth / Origin – Rooted beginnings, language, inheritance
2. Water / Migration – Movement, displacement, resilience
3. Fire / Destruction – Loss, upheaval, transformation
4. Air / Seeking – Aspiration, searching for meaning
5. Ether / Union (Fana’a) – Dissolution, transcendence, oneness
Connect:
Sophia Naz - Website | Sophia Naz - Instagram | Tara Pandeya - Instragram