Svāhā! - Ontario Tour 2026
An offering of dance, music and joy
Svāhā! is a celebration of dance as a revitalizing ritual that brings us closer together. It is an offering of movement, music, colours and sensations.
Conceived and choreographed by Nova Bhattacharya, Svāhā! is a rallying cry for unity, and a celebration of life itself. A high-energy spectacle, this rich work fuses nearly 30 distinct dance traditions – from Bharatnatyam to Butoh, Jazz to Salsa – into a singular, joyful experience. A cast of 17 vibrant performers lend their individuality to an intricate and expansive choreography, creating a communal experience that answers the isolation and societal fractures of our times with jubilant defiance. Svāhā! is an event teeming with life, bursting with color, and centering the compassion of shared humanity. Its original score by tabla virtuoso Ed Hanley and dynamic lighting design by Simon Rossiter heighten the experience, making Svāhā! a compelling call for community, diversity, and collective wonder.
“I am inspired by the eloquence of the human body and the intelligence of the senses. The potential for dance to stimulate people emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually drives my commitment to creating dances that exalt the human spirit and express ideas that words cannot.” ~ Nova Bhattacharya
Creative Team
Premiere Performances
TORONTO, WORLD PREMIERE
September 16 & 17, 2022
Show Time : 8:00pm
Lobby Opens : 7:00pm
September 18, 2022
Show Time : 2:00pm
Lobby Opens : 1:00pm
Bluma Appel Theatre
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
VANCOUVER , 2023
July 14 & 15, 2023
Show Time : 8:00pm
Vancouver Playhouse
(600 Hamilton Street)
PRESS
“In the hour that separates its rousingly cacophonous opening from its joyously freewheeling finale, choreographer Nova Bhattacharya’s new work “Svāhā!” takes audiences on an imaginative journey into the heart of dance as a transformative experience and a way of bringing people together.” - Michael Crabb, Toronto Star, performance review
“the process of creating Svāhā …. through the pandemic has reemphasized that dance is able to make people feel connected even during a time of great fracture in human history.” - Aparita Bhandari, CBC, performance review
“Svāhā! A love letter to dance and dancers: With Nova Bhattacharya”, Hosted by Nicole Inica Hamilton, Turnout Radio, podcast
On The Road
24 performers Live & recorded music, 1 rehearsal director, 1 Stage manager, 1 Assistant Stage Manager, 1 Technical Director
Or
22 performers recorded music, 1 rehearsal director, 1 Stage manager, 1 Assistant Stage Manager, 1 Technical Director
55 mins run time
Audience 12+
