© Poernima Gobardhan
Caught Again in the Net of Rebirth
One of the projects selected for Call for Creation ‘25, “Caught Again in the Net of Rebirth” is built on the concept of Trimurti, the Vedic cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction. A full-length dance theatre work premiering at The Place in 2026, this work examines ego death, transformation, and time’s paradox, where endings become beginnings. Structured in three parts, creation (relational impact), preservation (sustaining connections), and destruction (grief and renewal), the piece integrates Bharatanatyam’s intricate gestures with hip-hop’s raw energy and is deeply rooted in Gobardhan’s Hindostaanse heritage, descendants of Indian indentured workers in Suriname.
Chandenie Gobardhan
Chandenie Gobardhan is a London-based, Netherlands-born artist known for their unique movement vocabulary and political perspective. Their style is a carefully curated melting pot where elements of Bharata Natyam, street styles, and contemporary dance come together. Gobardhan's work challenges industry norms and bridges gaps between dance styles, particularly Bharatanatyam and hip-hop. Whilst their foundation is in Bharata natyam, Chandenie’s practice experiments with form, structure and concepts to continuously reinvent their approach. The stories of their work are rooted in sharing the important, but often unheard, stories inherited from their Hindostaanse (referring to nationals of Surinam with ancestry from the Indian indentured workers brought by the Dutch and British) diaspora.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Chandenie moved to London after completing their MA at Northern School of Contemporary Dance (2022), and quickly embedded theyself in the British dance scene. After their first commission (2022) by NSCD, they have gained recognition for their contributions since then. With a pervasive presence in various realms of the scene. Noteworthy commissions include works for prestigious platforms such as Yuva Gati (FABRIC) (2024), Messums 4X20 Choreographic Platform (2023), Tate Britain (2023), Nike London (2023) and more. Gobardhan is an active member of the London hip-hop community, representing and expanding the UK locking scene on an international level. Committed to nurturing talent, Gobardhan shares their expertise through workshops and classes for institutions like The Place, Nike London and the CAT-scheme Birmingham.