The opening event of CROSS Festival is a series of pieces featuring Indian dancer Sooraj Subramaniam, an internationally renowned exponent of Indian classical dance. The programme brings together Odissi, Bharatanatyam, and contemporary dance, intertwining nritta (pure dance) and abhinaya (expressive dance), reinterpreting traditional themes in a modern key and exploring the nuances and peculiarities of the various worlds.

The performance opens with two Bharatanatyam pieces. The first, Nandi Chol, meaning “celestial bull,” is dedicated to Neelakanta, the blue-throated lord. This is followed by an original choreography by the artist: a devotional song entitled Kirtanam – Maamava Meenakshi.
The programme continues with two Odissi pieces: Pallavi – Kalavati, which creates a tableau of moving images and celebrates the balance between pure and expressive dance, and Astapadi – Priye Carusile, which draws on medieval love songs. The final piece is Nimbus, a contemporary work created and performed by Sooraj Subramaniam, inspired by the concept of viraha, or love in separation, a central theme in classical Indian poetry.