Workshop by Preethi Athreya – In Residence for Rubber Girl

G5A presents

RUBBER GIRL

By Preethi Athreya

Produced by G5A as part of In Residence

Supported by BNP Paribas

About the Performance:

Rubber Girl draws inspiration from the legacy of Cuckoo Moray, one of the pioneering cabaret dancers in Indian cinema during the 1940s. This work investigates the complex symbolism of the Indian cabaret body and its historical and cultural implications. It explores how national identity navigates the tensions between desire, surveillance, and self-perception in a post-independence era.

The performance delves into key global and cultural moments — from World War Europe and the birth of DADA to the Chinese revolution and the evolution of Indian cinema. Despite these historical touchpoints, the figure of Rubber Girl evolves independently, embodying an unpredictable spirit that rejects the constraints of the past and embraces the unknown future.

Rubber Girl was initially developed during a residency at the Centre National de la Danse (CND), Pantin and Cité des Arts, Paris in 2022, with further development support from the Alliance Française of Madras.

Credits:

Concept & Choreography: Preethi Athreya

Dramaturgy & Technical Direction: Pravin Kannanur

Performance: Preethi Athreya

Lighting Design: Gurleen Judge

Music Arrangement: Paul Jacob

Music (used with permission): Robin Fargose, Uli Schauert, Tuba Skinny

Costume and Accessories: Ezhilmadi, M. Siva

About G5A:

G5A produces and co-creates interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary work that is bold, experimental, and rooted in both traditional and contemporary methods.



In Residence, a production series by G5A, supports practitioners with the time and space to explore and refine their craft. These residencies culminate in performances that reflect rigorous artistic inquiry and innovation.