AAHVAAN:

Aahvaan sought to call and exhort the awakening of goodness within every person in order to defeat the negative forces that seem to engulf mankind. Both fought battles for victory of good over evil. Goddess Durga fought fierce battles to gain victory over the demon Mahishasura and Lord Rama too, had to undergo 14 years exile and the trauma of abduction of his wife Sita by Ravana which finally culminated in a seven days battle in which Ravana was defeated and killed.

The dance presentation Aahvaan sought to portray these two major legends of our Indian mythology through Nava Durga, the nine avatars that the Devi took to fight various evil forces and Sant Tulsidas's 4 line verse, the Ek Shloki Ramayan that recalled major events in Lord Rama's life which finally culminated in his victory over the evil forces of Ravana. 
Presentation: Group presentation 
Duration: 45 minutes

“Ayo ri Basant”:

“Ayo Ri Basant” (Here comes the Spring!), a dance musical that reflects the joy of new hope, new beginnings and new life in the form of sprouting of seedlings and saplings, as flowers begin to bloom and yellow mustard flowers dance in the gentle spring breeze, was re-staged after a gap of 38 years. The dance musical wove together verses of poets from all communities and faiths such as traditional Vedic shloka, Jayadeva, Amir Khusro, traditional folk songs etc.
Presentation: Group presentation 
Duration: 35 minutes

“Ek Shloki Ramayan” (of Sant Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century):

Ek Shloki Ramayan by the 16th century saint poet, Goswami Tulsidas is a condensed version of the entire Ramayan in a single verse (shloka) of four lines. It is believed that chanting the Ek Shloki Ramayan gives the benefit of chanting the entire Ramayan.
Starting with an obeisance to Lord Rama, the great benefactor and protector of mankind, Sita swayamvar (marriage of Rama and Sita), Kaikeyi’s insistence that her son Bharat should be the crown prince and Rama’s banishment, set the stage for delineation of the Ek shloki Ramayan. This verse enumerates the 14 years’ exile of Rama, his wife Sita’s abduction by Ravana, the killing of Jatayu in his effort to save Sita, the fight between the two brothers Sugreev and Bali, the burning of Lanka by Hanuman whose tail had been set on fire by Ravana’s men, the bringing of Sanjeevini herb by Hanuman in order to revive the mortally wounded Lakshman and finally the battle between Ravana and Rama where Ravana dies at the hands of Lord Rama.  
The presentation is replete with melodic lyrics, gat bhava, rhythmic patterns (paran and pirmilu), kavitts (recitative verse) such as the Jatayu moksha paran and the Hanuman paran. The item ends with a eulogy to Rama, Ramashtakam.
Composed in 2020, it was presented in 2021.
Presentation: Mini Ballet/ Group presentation 
Duration: 23 minutes

Eternal Quest

Eternal Quest dwelt on the writings of women-poets who extolled passionate inner, mystical, and highly personal devotional love for the Divine and chose to express themselves in the vernacular languages as opposed to Sanskrit. The Bhakti Movement gained momentum from the 12th centuries in the central western regions of India, it moved northward, coming to an end roughly in the 17th century.
The production dwelt on two women saint-poets, Lal Ded from Kashmir and Gangasati from Gujarat, both women saint poets revered by their people.
The Vaks of Lal Ded, who was a Shaivite, stemmed from personal experience, conveying the realization that the divine resides within. Shovana next turned to the Gujarati poet Gangasati’s bhajans written for her daughter-in-law, Panbai, to advocate the path of self-realization through their good karma and meditative devotion to delineate the path of spiritualism. In stark contrast to Lal Ded, Gangasati was a happily married woman, with a devotional bent of mind and spirit, who even converted her husband to the path of realization. Both Gangasati and Lal Ded spoke of going beyond idol worship, of dissolving the “I” within, and finding ecstasy in merging the self with that of the para Brahman residing within.
This production was part of an overall evening with Ranjana Gauhar (Odissi) and Rashmi Vaidialingam (Kuchipudi). The sutradhar of the programme was art writer and artist Alka Raghuvanshi.
(Premiered on 27th January, 2020 at India habitat Centre, New Delhi)
Presentation: Multi-Style National Collaborative work
Duration: 50-55 minutes
 

Draupadi to Nirbhaya: (Draupadi se Nirbhaya tak)

The disrobing of Draupadi, a powerful woman, queen and a woman in her own right, has been seen through various lens: on one hand as a woman wielding power, a woman who was proud and lived on her terms, a woman who took on the challenge of being the wife of five husbands, facing  disdain, shame and mockery at the hands of the kingdom, a woman who at every opportunity, learnt and mastered the arts of warfare and of politics, and comprehended learning far beyond her years, while on the other hand, as a woman who was a pawn in the hands of a patriarchal society.
Today too, women seem to be continuing the game of being pawns at the hands of a male dominated society. If she, Draupadi had been humiliated and disrobed in public, are we, the so-called ‘civilised society of the 21st century’ any different, with several Nirbhaya episodes dotting the landscape of today? It is only when we women, stand up to injustice and create the right atmosphere at home in bringing up the future generations that we shall be able to correct imbalances in society.  
(Premiere on 20th Feb 2020 at the India Islamic Centre Auditorium)
Presentation: Group presentation
Duration: 25-30 minutes

Mere Desh Udaas na Ho:

A beautiful poem by Hindi poet, Gopal Das Neeraj where he says that darkness is not permanent and always gives way to the rising sun, similarly difficult days are not permanent as the light of better days is bound to follow. Even though all seem to be engulfed in gloom, yet this is not permanent for there is hope. Man will again regain the springiness in his gait and unhappiness will give way to happiness.  Change is constant. 
The dance was inspired by the engulfing darkness of mind that was seizing a large part of the population due to the enforced lockdown caused by the raging coronavirus. And in such times, the message of hope through the poignant and meaningful verses of Neeraj was appreciated throughout the globe. 
(Premiered on 22nd April 2020)
Presentation: Multi-Cast presentation 
Duration: 15 minutes

Just Wait for the Sun: 

Dance enactment of a poem which says that better days will come, as every situation in life is temporary however bleak they may seem at that moment. This was especially presented for the people all over the world who were suffering from the darkness that was gripping them caused by Covid-19 coronavirus. It was premiered on 24th April 2020.
Presentation: Multi-Cast presentation 
Duration: 10 minutes

Guftagu

In the unprecedented period of lockdown caused by Covid-19 Coronavirus, the challenge before many was how to fight depression. This was an issue especially among senior citizens who found themselves helpless without the support and who felt isolated as their children, relatives and friends were unable to see them or render any assistance. The need for communication, therefore, became paramount. In this context, broad basing the poem of Urdu poet late Ali Sardar Jafri, ‘Guftagu Bund Na Ho’ (Do not cease having conversations) was extremely relevant. The dance video featured the late poet Ali Sardar Jafri’s voice reciting a line from his poem. It was a humble dedication on the occasion of the World Dance Day.
(Premiered on 29th April 2020)
Presentation: Multi-Cast presentation 
Duration: 10 minutes

Nava Durga

The onslaught of Covid was akin to that of the asuras spreading havoc, chaos and death. In such a situation, Devi took on her nine forms (avatars) ranging from the benign to the most fearsome to get rid of the asuras and bring relief to the affected population. These were Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayini, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidayini. Against this backdrop, the Nava Durga presentation was conceived, conceptualised and choreographed by Shovana. 
This was performed by Shovana Narayan with some of her disciples who were with her every day for online classes during the period of lock-down. (Premiered online on 20th Oct 2020).
Presentation: Group presentation 
Duration: 23 - 40 minutes

AUM 

“AUM” is a term that resonates within all Indians. No ritual is complete without the chanting of AUM.  It is considered to be the cosmic power behind all creations! The Mandukya Upanishad states that the term AUM contains all matter, all energy, all thoughts transcending time, space, and causation. It is therefore the Absolute Reality. 
Exploring the four dimensions of the powerful term AUM, namely the awakening, the realisation, the aspiration and the continuum, a unique dance presentation 'AUM .... a Continuum" was to be presented on 28th March 2020 at the HRD Centre Auditorium, Noida and on 1st April, 2020 at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi- but these were postponed indefinitely due to the on-going lockdown caused by Covid-19 coronavirus. It was finally presented on stage in 2021 at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre which was followed by several more shows.
Presentation: Dance Ballet with Group presentations 
Duration: 40 minutes

 Ma (Mother): The Nurturing Spirit

A dedication to all mothers, the universal mother, the universal truth who breathes life into beings, nurturing them through thick and thin, guiding them as teachers, mentors, guide to evolved into fine human beings, who is the silent rock and spiritual guide too. She is an important factor in facing challenges and adversities so as to ensure safety and security of all, bringing in `culture of peace and non-violence and in the eradication of social inequities.’
Presentation: Multi-Cast presentation 
Duration: 10 minutes

Vande Mataram:

The national song, Vande Mataram by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya, still provides inspiration to one and all. This dance rendering pays ode to the mother and the motherland, and the poem Namo Swatantra Bharat ki Dhwaja by national poet, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, pays ode to the Indian national flag.
Presentation: Multi-Cast presentation 
Duration: 7-8 minutes

Traya

The power of three is universal. It is the tripartite nature of the world as heaven, earth, and waters. It is human as body, soul and spirit. Three is birth, life, death. It is the beginning, middle and end. Three is a complete cycle unto itself. It is past, present and future. Three is a moving forward of energy, overcoming duality, expression, manifestation and synthesis. Three is the first number to which the meaning “all” was given. The evening consisted of three items, each with three parts: 
Triveni: that represented the meeting point of three rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati and associated symbolisms.

Trayam: that showcased the tripartite nature of the world - birth, life and death.

Trikaal: that centred on the wheel of time –bhoot, vartaman, bhavishya ie past, present and future. This third and finale item exuded contemporariness in music treatment, distinct from the earlier two parts.
(Premiere: PHDCC on 12th July 2019 which later saw several repeat performances)
Presentation: Dance Ballet/ Group work
Duration: 40 minutes
 

“Shan-e-NoorJehan” 

“Shan-e-Noorjehan” reflected the grandeur and glory of Noorjehan’s era that brings out the flavour of romance which is sought to be portrayed through various phases of her life: Her romance, marriage and the grandeur of the Mughal court. Interspersed with shairi, the evening had four parts namely (i) the beautiful all-consuming emotion of longing for union; (ii) the romance of being in Love (iii) joy and expectations - marriage and departure of the Bride to the Groom’s house and (iv) Shan-e-Durbar (Rhythm and Joy). Verses of the following poets were interwoven to highlight the various emotions of the production namely Amir Khusro, Meer Taqi Meer, Ammer Minai, Dr L.M.Singhvi and Shafaq. 
Presentation: Dance Ballet/ Group work
Duration: 40 minutes
 

Sangachhadwam: Dance of Unity and Peace – Vedic Hymn (with 5 styles of classical dance)

“Sangachhadwam” featured 5 major dance styles of India, reflecting the spirit of the Vedic Hymn of Unity (Riga Veda X-191-2) wherein it extolls and exhorts: “Come together! Speak together! Let our minds be all of one accord. Let our speech be one and united be our voices! May our minds be in union with the thoughts of the Wise, sharing a common purpose as we worship together as one! Let our aim be one! Let our hearts be joined as one. Let united be our thoughts. At peace with all, may we ALL be together in harmony!” (Premiere: 18th Feb 2018 for Astitva Awards Ceremony at PHDCCI House)

Presentation: Multi Style Collaborative work
Duration: 20 minutes