HAPPENING 5 DEC 2025 |The Hague-based dance company Kalpanarts will perform its celebrated production Triple Vision at Schouwburg Rotterdam. In this three-part performance, choreographer and artistic director Kalpana Raghuraman blends multiple dance styles and disciplines, placing Indian culture in a contemporary context. The piece marks Kalpanarts’ 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of bridging cultures through dance.
Image: Triple Vision: Whisper; soloist Laila Gozzi. Photo: Bowie Verschuuren
Like the company’s previous productions Breathe and Trust, Triple Vision combines Indian dance traditions with elements of urban and contemporary dance, set against personal and social narratives. The dancers and musicians express the tension and harmony between culture and identity, exploring themes of tradition, modernity and self-expression.
A powerful triptych of dance
Triple Vision features three works: a revival of the duets Tara and Fluid and the premiere of the solo Whisper. The duets, originally released online during the pandemic, have since appeared at select festivals.
In Tara, dancer Indu Panday and bassist Mark Haanstra explore the cosmic interplay between movement and sound, merging Indian classical dance with raw, rhythmic rock. Fluid challenges perceptions of masculinity and strength, bringing together breakdancer Jan Schellekens and vocalist Shashwathi Jagadish, whose expressive Indian singing contrasts and complements the athletic choreography.
In Whisper, dancer Laila Gozzi portrays the struggle to be heard within the medical system, using her body to express the frustration and resilience of those seeking recognition and respect.
About Kalpana Raghuraman and Kalpanarts
Kalpana Raghuraman, founder and artistic director of Kalpanarts, has a background in cultural anthropology and sociology. Her work dismantles clichés surrounding Indian dance and highlights its depth and diversity. Over time, she has evolved her style by integrating urban and contemporary influences while maintaining a dialogue with Indian traditions.
“Through our productions, we explore how dance can connect different worlds — from tradition to urban culture, from introspection to expression,” says Raghuraman. “For me, dance is a language that keeps changing, just as we do.”
Kalpana Raghuraman is currently Creative Associate at Dutch National Ballet, the first Indian artist and first non-classical ballet maker to hold this position. She is also co-curator at Korzo, The Hague’s renowned dance and production house, and recently collaborated on a new, decolonised framework for La Bayadère, set to premiere in 2026.
Location and directions
The performance takes place at Schouwburg Rotterdam, located in the city centre within walking distance of Rotterdam Centraal Station. The theatre is easily reached by tram or metro, and nearby cafés make it ideal for a full evening out.
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