Ānanda: Dance of Joy

Sanchaara — an emerging Brisbane initiative bringing South Asian art to new stages and audiences — presents Ānanda: Dance of Joy at SunPAC this October, offering Brisbane audiences and visitors a rare opportunity to experience internationally acclaimed Australian Bharathanatyam artist Christopher Gurusamy live on stage.

Ānanda, meaning joy or bliss, explores Christopher's relationship with dance and the idea of dance as a path to joy. Grounded in the classical traditions of Bharathanatyam, the work draws on Indian poetry, Hindu philosophy and Carnatic music alongside Christopher's contemporary Australian perspective, moving from intricate rhythmic passages to expressive storytelling through moments of devotion, desire and joy.

Previously presented at Eternity Playhouse in Sydney, Dancehouse in Melbourne and the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai Ānanda has received critical acclaim, including a four-star review in The Age and a Green Room Award nomination for Outstanding Performer.

Open to all, the performance offers both first-time audiences and dance enthusiasts an opportunity to discover one of India's major classical dance traditions through the work of one of Australia's leading Bharathanatyam artists.