a listening body
Collateral Design; Scenography
(Lighting Design, Multimedia Design)
January Low
2023
A Listening Body is a dance-theatre experience shaped by January’s reflections on and around Odissi. Informed by over 30 years of practice—and more recently, a virtual mentorship with Odissi exponent Bijayini Satpathy—January deepens her relationship with the form through an active process of listening and responding to her body, mind, and environment. The work gently peels away the exoticised and commodified layers of Odissi to reveal something personal, vulnerable, and respectful—offering space for both performer and audience to become equal partners in the experience.
The overall art direction embraced a minimalist approach, aligning with the performance’s quiet intimacy. This sensibility extended into the graphic design, which drew from Odissi’s fundamental components and variations, as well as fragments from the email exchanges that shaped the mentorship. The contemporary typeface Quiche was chosen for its grace and contrast—echoing January’s movement: fluid yet grounded.
Performance photos
by Vinoth Raj Pillai (1 – 2), Low Pey Sien (3 – 8)Best Featured Lead Performer—January Low
Best Choreographer in a Feature Length Work—January Low
Best Multimedia Design—Bryan Chang