Events

Wearing a short blouse that reveals a toned midriff, a long flowing skirt and a sequinned belt tied low across the waist, the dancer takes centre stage. Adorned with an exquisite silver necklace, chunky bangles and a nose ring, his short hair is swept back and he sports stylish stubble.

The music starts to play and the dancer's hips sway, gently at first and then more vigorously, as he gracefully keeps time with the catchy tune. His fluid, sinuous movements seem effortless as he pirouettes, shimmies and spins, his arms and legs accentuating the movements of his belly and hips.

Indian dance does want to tell stories; but, ultimately, emotion and spirit is what all classical Indian dance cares deeply about.

Each ‘style’ (as in ‘Bharatanatyam’ and ‘Kathak’ featured in BBC Young Dancer) has its demanding, characteristic physical vocabulary and repertoire to express this.

But all share a common, dance-theatre heritage that seems to need not only to joyously dance but also to tell stories, about gods and their exploits, what they do in their fanciful realm - and on earth - to their fans and foes!

They met on bicycles.

It was 2003, Claudia Ried and Alan Kraemer were in a Tustin cycling club. They were in the midst of a difficult uphill ride when Kraemer broke into song.

“The hills are alive with the sound of music,” he sang without a hint of irony.

That’s all Ried needed to hear. A show tune lover, she joined in.

“We just clicked,” Ried said.