Reputed artists from the fields of choreography, visual arts, language, music, lighting & set design, film & video, worked with a group of performers selected for their skills, interests, adaptability and aptitude. Over the duration of the laboratory, participants were given an opportunity to study and draw upon both Indian physical traditions as well as Western contemporary movement techniques.

Artists and professionals from the fields of movement arts, mixed media and choreography, from Denmark, France, Sweden, Japan, UK, USA, Israel, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and India came together to articulate a variety of issues and ideas.

While the emphasis of the lab was on choreographic strategies (creation and organization of movement) – for stage as well as other spaces like video/film, and unconventional sites outside the usual theatre space; wherever appropriate, special sessions gave the participants hands-on experience in other disciplines. Dance studios with sprung wooden floors, video cameras and editing facilities, lighting rig and music making facilities all went to making this choreography lab a truly unique experience. In the course of an exciting evening, on the last day, participants presented their work.

Some of the workshop leaders include Jerome Bel (choreographer, France), Satyanarayanan (Kalaripayattu artist, Trivandrum), Navtej Singh Johar (Bharatanatyam, New Delhi), Thomas Dotzler (light designer, Denmark), Chandran Veyattumal (musician), Yael Flexer (director, Bedlam Dance Company, UK), HS Arun (Yoga, Bangalore), Matsuo Kunihiko (digital artist, Japan), Rajivan Ayyappan (sonic artist, Mumbai), Nic Sandliland (video and digital artist, UK), Lorenzo Brusci (composer and sonic artist, Italy) and Joseph Hyde (composer and digital artist, UK).

Facilitated by Professor Christopher Bannerman, Chair of Dance, ResCen at Middlesex University, UK and coordinated by Jayachandran Palazhy, Artistic Director, Attakkalari, Bangalore, India; the next Facets will be held in 2008.