Berlin Fellowship 2024 — Performing Arts
Vita
Artistic director of the Centre of Contemporary Dance, Pawar is amongst the important voices in Indian contemporary dance. He has studied Kathak with Pt. Rohini Bhate and was later a guest student at the prestigious Palucca Hochschule in the Dance Teaching Programme in Dresden. He continues his Kathak training under Guru Neelima Adhye.
With numerous feature films and theatre pieces as a performer and a choreographer, his collaborative work was featured at various art festivals, including documenta in Kassel, Germany and the Kochi Biennale, India in 2018–19.
Pawar has also received the prestigious McArthur Fellowship for 2015–16, in addition to numerous other awards. Apart from various films, stage shows, and theatre works, Pawar is most committed in his work to people who have Parkinson’s Disease and other under-represented communities, which has become a work philosophy for him.
Residency
“Memory and Movement: The Role of Memory in Shaping My Contemporary Dance” is a detailed exploration of how memory influences movement in my contemporary dance, where it is stored in the body, and how it is transmitted through performance. By highlighting the significance of memory in the creative process, the study will contribute to a richer understanding of contemporary dance as an art form. Future research could further investigate the intersection of memory, movement, and other embodied practices, expanding on the insights gained from this study. The project will include a comprehensive list of references, drawing from academic sources, articles, and books relevant to the research.