Shakti
Shakti, a cutting-edge dancer renowned for her transformative performances,
brings an extraordinary new adaptation of The Woman in the Dunes to Adelaide
Fringe 2025. This evocative visually stunning production explores themes of
isolation, survival, love and death through the eyes of
one of Japan's most revered literary works.​​​​​
​
Based on the acclaimed novel by Kobo Abe, The Woman in the Dunes follows
the haunting story of one who is trapped in the sand dunes.
This gripping narrative is brought to life with striking performances,
intricate set design, and a fusion of Eastern and Western dance traditions.
GLAM ADELAIDE
The struggle between freedom and entrapment are key themes in Woman in the Dunes, a new dance production by Shakti that fascinates and humbles.
Shakti is a regular contributor to the Adelaide arts community through her previous shows and now in the form as not only performer and choreographer but also as the Artistic Director of The Garage International.
Her work is greatly influenced by a rare but interesting combination of Eastern and Indian dance traditions along with modern dance methods that has resulted in a rather interesting style.
Her decades of work across multiple countries have led to her being referred to as the “Sculpture in Movement”.
Show Schedule
2025
*21-22 February at 7:00pm / 23 February at 4:30pm
Adelaide Fringe at The Garage International @ Adelaide Town Hall
​​
*11-22 July at 5:00pm
Avignon OFF Festival at The Garage Intermational
In the Hotel Mercure Pont d'Avignon - Quartier de la Balance (at the end of the road)
​
*11-22 Juillet a 5:00pm
A l'Hote Mercure Pont d'Avignon Quartier de la Balance (au bout de la rue)
​
*18-19 October
At Shakti Studio Tokyo
​
*27 October
At Pressance Legend Biwako
​
​
​
Photo: Dinuka Liyanawatte
A Bold and Poignant Retelling
Shakti blends elements of physical theatre, contemporary dance, yoga and immersive soundscapes to create a piece that transcends language, inviting the audience into the shifting sands of one’s existential struggles. The dance not only explores the tension between freedom and entrapment but also asks profound questions about the human spirit and its resilience.
​
Shakti has always been known to push the boundaries. Woman in the Dunes allows us to explore deeply philosophical themes through a captivating visual and physical language. Audiences will be challenged to reflect on their own experiences of isolation, connection, and the shifting sands of the passage of time.
Discover the Dunes
The Dawning
Existence - Dance of Sisyphus
Entrapment - Dance of Fear
Eros - Dance of Desire
Enchantment - Spell
Ecstasy - Dance of Liberation
The Sunset
Original music score composed by
Steven Severin (ex Siouxie and The
Banshees), who established himself as
one of the foremost alternative artists of
the London punk scene.
Shakti and Steven collaborated to create a
piece that provokes the subconscious and
challenges the perceptions of eros and
exctasy.
L'aube
Existence - Danse de Sisyphe
Entrainement - Danse de la peur
Eros - Danse du désir
Enchantement - Sortilège
Extase - Danse de la libération
Le coucher de soleil
Musique originale écrite
pour Shakti par Steven Severin (ex Siouxie et La Banshees), qui a été l'un des principaux artistes alternatifs de la scène punk à Londres.
Shakti & Steven ont collaboré pour créer une pièce qui provoque le subconscient et conteste les perceptions de l'éros et de l'extase.
Shakti
​Shakti, Indo-Japanese ‘nymph of sensuality’ with her unique blend combining the fiery emotion of India and the ethereal beauty of the Orient presents “Woman in the Dunes”, based on the novel by Kobo Abe. The dance is an existential surrealistic view on survival, love, and death taking place in the sand dunes of our subconscious minds.
Shakti’s dance mixes eastern dance movements with western jazz creating a “scintillating cocktail of the sacred and the profane” (Montreal Eye).
​
“Woman in the Dunes” premiered at the London ICA in May 2000. It then was performed at the Avignon Festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Tel Aviv International Festival, Montreal Fringe Festival, Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre, NACC, Aoyama Enkei Theatre (Tokyo) and Kyoto Prefectural Arts Hall.
​
”She becomes lost in the wild throes of ecstasy and leaves the audience positively stunned!” (The List)
“An intense and poetic dance drama.” (The Herald)
“She writhes across the battlefield of pornography and art displaying a prowess in complete eroticized movement.” (London- What’s On)
“Thrumming vortex of sound, striking visual imagery. . . from anguish, fierce struggle, and mystical surrender, to a whirlwind climax of urgent, sensual self-awarenesss.” (The Herald- UK)
​