Shakti Caravan 2025
In the Garden of Hope: Reflections from Livia on India
One blossom stands supreme,
With petals of potentiality.
In rainbow colors of pure delight,
My soul will yield its truth and beauty…
Hue by hue.
—Sri Aurobindo & The Mother
Some History: As many of you know, The Vanaver Caravan has been working in India since 2011, when Miranda, Marina, Ramona, and Gustavo—at the invitation of Rita and David Kubiak—went to Udaipur. In collaboration with their organization, Big Medicine Charitable Trust, we formed Shakti Caravan. That year, the Company worked with 108 children, as well as with Bharat Verma and his team of fabulous young street dancers. Bharat has been a member of The Vanaver Caravan ever since and still joins us on Zoom for a weekly dance class.
In 2014, Julian Lines (of Matagiri and Auroville International) brought Miranda, Bill, and me down to Auroville in Tamil Nadu. We fell in love with the community there, particularly with Aikiyam School, where 280 children attend daily. We have returned several times with various members of the Caravan to conduct ambitious and meaningful dance and music projects, including animating In the Heart of the Village (Barbara Bash's book about a day in the life of a banyan tree), performed in an actual banyan tree—the playground for the kindergarteners at Aikiyam.
This year was different. Very different. Thanks to the Foundation for World Education, we were able to bring Company members Andy Teirstein, Jill Ann Schwartz, Chelsea Needham, Bharat Verma, Bill, and myself back to Auroville to dance The Mother's Symbol.
I had wanted to do this project for years, and this was the time. Being older and journeying deeper into the questions of who we are and why we are here on this earth led me to bring alive Sri Aurobindo and The Mother's Symbol through dance and music. In a rainbow of color and intention, the symbol depicts qualities of humanity that are more vital than ever and yearning to be expressed.
Collaborating with the teachers of grades 1–9, each class chose an aspect/color: Gratitude, Perseverance, Aspiration, Receptivity, Progress, Courage, Generosity, Equality, and Peace. The teachers chose Goodness. Usha, the dance teacher at Aikiyam, choreographed Sincerity for eight of her dancers. Our Company chose Humility. The dances were choreographed by Jill Ann, Bharat, and myself.
We were joined by Ian and Radha from the Auroville Theatre Group, who spoke Tamil and translated beautifully for the students and teachers. Together, we deep-dived into these aspects of humanity. They are still shining brightly in each of us, even though we returned three weeks ago.
What we experienced was the most heartfelt sense of community, commitment, and collaboration. Each group created their dances separately for two weeks. Then we came together in the Sports Center—a giant basketball stadium within walking distance of Aikiyam School. It was the only sheltered space large enough to hold the 260 performers plus an audience.
Sharon Sassaman, a lecturer on The Mother's Symbol (and an Isadora Duncan dancer), dyed 15 yards of silk fabric for each of the 12 attributes, which we incorporated into our dances. In the end, after the first graders danced Peace, all 12 fabrics were lifted and woven together in the center to the tune of Jay Ungar and Molly Mason's Ashokan Farewell. Andy and Chelsea, in collaboration with a wonderful local Tamil drummer, carried the music. It was perfect.
The experience is still resonating within our Company. Truly, there are no words that can fully express the impact this project had on our lives and on everyone who participated in and witnessed the performance.
I am filled with gratitude for our beautiful community. As we build lasting and ever-growing relationships in India, the world feels smaller and more connected. We look forward to continuing this rich connection with our beloved community in India. Act locally and globally.
Yatra is still working on the video, which will be available on our website when it's ready.
Jan-Feb 2025
The Vanaver Caravan is in India! Livia, Bill, Andy Teirstein, Jill Ann Schwartz, and Chelsea Needham are part of the Shakti Caravan, sharing dance and music in the streets and schools of Udaipur and Pondicherry. For Livia and Bill, Chelsea and Livia, this trip is a homecoming; for Andy, it’s a fresh adventure.
The Shakti Caravan, an initiative of The Vanaver Caravan since 2012, is all about cultural exchange—building bridges from Ulster to Udaipur and New Paltz to Auroville, connecting communities through the joy of dance and music.
In Udaipur, the City of Lakes, cobblestone streets come alive with spontaneous contra dances. Bharat Verma, India’s first body percussionist, transforms everyday movements into captivating rhythms. The Caravan also collaborates with Shikshantar, The People's Institute for Re-thinking Education and Development, enriching the exchange with innovative learning and green entrepreneurship.
Just outside Pondicherry lies Auroville, a global community rooted in unity. Every Thursday at dawn, Chelsea and Livia Zoom in from New York, Bharat joins from Udaipur, and together they lead dance classes with the Malarchi kids at Aikiyam School—a celebration of movement across time zones. This month, they all get to dance together!
The Shakti Caravan’s programs are as varied as its dance steps: bringing dance to schools, sharing rhythms with local dancers, and performing in theaters, streets, and festivals. Each step and song weaves a tapestry of shared stories.
Follow their journey on our Instagram: @Vanavercaravan.
