IMPERMANENCE to present Songs of the Bulbul at The Mount Without

This May, Bristol’s most visionary contemporary dance company, IMPERMANENCE, presents Songs of the Bulbul, a deeply spiritual and visually captivating dance work from world-renowned artist Aakash Odedra, created in collaboration with choreographer Rani Khanam and composer Rushil Ranjan.

Set within the surrounds of The Mount Without, Songs of the Bulbul will be performed at 7:30pm on Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th May as part of IMPERMANENCE’s Spring/Summer 2025 season, supported by Jerwood Foundation.

In Songs of the Bulbul, Aakash Odedra draws from the ancient Sufi tale of a caged bulbul, a nightingale whose heartbreak gives rise to one final, piercingly beautiful song before it succumbs to captivity. The performance, which is a tribute to the performer’s mother, is a metaphor for the impermanence of dance. Much like birdsong, each performance exists only in the moment - sung once, then gone.

This powerful new work sees Odedra join forces with acclaimed choreographer Rani Khanam, a revered figure in the world of Sufi Kathak, and rising star composer Rushil Ranjan, known for his ability to blend orchestra with Indian classical music. 

Rooted in the rich traditions of Sufi poetry, music, and Kathak dance, the work is based on themes of spirituality and freedom. Odedra poses the question: Will people, like caged birds, remain bound to the material world, or is it possible to soar towards a higher existence of liberation and the divine?

Joshua Ben-Tovim, Co-Director of IMPERMANENCE, said: “This is one of those rare performances that manages to be both intimate and immense. It asks questions that are both deeply personal and equally universal, bringing audiences together in their contemplation of freedom and divinity. Aakash Odedra’s work is transformative, and we’re proud to bring it to Bristol.”

Co-Director Roseanna Anderson adds: “Dance, like the bulbul’s song, is fleeting. That’s what makes this work so powerful. It stays with you, even after the final movement fades.”

Made possible by a generous multi-year grant from Jerwood Foundation, IMPERMANENCE’s programme at The Mount Without is a vital platform for the development of dance in the UK. Following Songs of the Bulbul, the season continues with three more diverse performances from an array of globally recognised names: 

Monday 12 - Tuesday 13 May: Songs of the Bulbul by Aakash Odedra – A stunning collaboration between two Sufi Kathak masters, blending spiritual Sufi poetry and the intense physicality of Kathak dance.

Wednesday 14 May: To Be Continued – A mixed bill of short works-in-progress by IMPERMANENCE and guest choreographers, with an in-depth post-show talk offering audiences a glimpse of new ideas and creative processes.

Tuesday 17 - Thursday 19 June: ELEFANTIN by Cree Barnett-Williams – A dance-theatre satire confronting the expectations of female image, sexuality and empowerment in pop culture, with a nod to the iconic Barbie.

Wednesday 9 - Thursday 10 July: Hope Hunt and the Ascension into Lazarus by Oona Doherty – An award-winning, dance theatre piece exploring masculinity, morality and nostalgia through powerful character transformations.

Tickets for Songs of the Bulbul are on sale now via Headfirst: https://www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/checkout/songs-of-the-bulbul. 

More information about IMPERMANENCE’s upcoming shows can be found here: https://www.impermanence.co.uk/whats-on