Female power takes the stage in this dance

Dancers January Low (below) and Rathimalar Govindarajoo will present an odissi duet titled bloom in Kuala Lumpur, Oct 21-23. Photo: S. Magendran

Dancers Rathimalar Govindarajoo and January Low did not set out to make a feminist statement when they embarked on their show bloom at live venue Bobo KL, which starts tomorrow. Along the way, however, it has evolved into not just a celebration of womanhood, but more specifically, a commentary on what it means for a woman to be able to work or pursue her passion while also raising a family.

Low’s body itself serves as a visual metaphor. She will be seven months pregnant when she takes to the stage this weekend. It is a rare sight in the dance world, and even more so in Indian classical dance. It is telling, perhaps, that Low has been inundated with questions about her decision to dance while pregnant since word of the show got out. But it also speaks more widely of how we as a society view pregnancy and mothers – that somehow, when a woman becomes a mother, her other passions should take a backseat.