Performance
2025
Shailesh Bahoran

MYSTIC

The rhytm of the live music, the intensity of the ICK dancers, the connection between the performers: MYSTIC by Shailesh Bahoran takes over entire body.
— NPO cultuur

Building on his previous works, such as SHAKTI and AGHORI, in which Indian philosophy of life and Hindustani culture form the starting points, Bahoran searches for the universality of the mystical in MYSTIC. How can something bring about the same experience in different cultures, in different times, in different places, and for all kinds of different people?

With a background in hip-hop culture, Bahoran goes on an adventure in collaboration with ICK Dans Amsterdam and the ICK ensemble dancers with a classical/contemporary background. Cross-pollination is also sought in the music and spiritual aspects of the culture of the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra. Six musicians play live during the performance.

MYSTIC is a production of ICK Dans Amsterdam in coproduction with Illusionary Rockaz Company, Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest and Meervaart.

The Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra (AAO) performs music styles ranging in origin from Granada to Baghdad and has several successful theatrical productions to its credit, including REMLA, ZIEL|ROUH and Jihad of Love.

Artists involved with ICK are not always the usual suspects of dance, but rather creators who distinguish themselves in wild freshness and ruthless idealism, with the body as their main source of inspiration and power.

Choreographer Shailesh Bahoran / Illusionary Rockaz Company (IRC) has a background in Urban and is looking for a cross-pollination with contemporary dance. He is inspired in his work by his Hindustani roots and from there brings a non-Western perspective on the motives that live at ICK. In 2023 Bahoran will create new work for the dance ensemble in collaboration with the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra. His expertise will also be used in educational projects that include the dialogue between urban and contemporary dance.

Shailesh Bahoran (1983) is a versatile dancer and choreographer who distinguishes himself by his strong technique, originality and expressiveness. Although firmly rooted in hip-hop, Bahoran does not hesitate to work out-of-the-box and is inspired by his Hindu background. With his own collective Illusionary Rockaz Company he has been making performances since 2003. He has previously worked with the Dutch National Ballet, Don’t Hit Mama, Conny Janssen Danst, the Dutch Symphony Orchestra, the Amsterdam School of the Arts, Korzo and ISH Dance Collective.

Trailer

© Sjoerd Derine
© Sjoerd Derine
© Sjoerd Derine
© Sjoerd Derine
© Sjoerd Derine
© Sjoerd Derine
Mystic portrays direct communication from one soul to another
— Het Parool
Credits
Choreography Shailesh Bahoran — Associate Artist
Dancers — ICK Ensemble Clive Rudd, Jordaine Lincoln, Hiroki Nunogaki, Payton St.John, Ricardo Vasquez Allen and Sixtine Biron
Musicians Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra Daniël van Huffelen, Hamza Amrani, Salah Eddine Mesbah, Khalil Khoury, Pouriya Jaberi and Hessel Moeselaar
Musician and vocals Raj Mohan
Ligthning design Mike den Ottolander
Costume design Clifford Portier
Technical producer Israel del Barco
Rehearsal director Victor Swank and Nico Monaco
Rehearsal director musicians Daniël van Huffelen
Technicians Tom Haaima and Bas van der Gun
Premiere 1 March, 2025 — Meervaart, Amsterdam (ICK Fest)
Production ICK Dans Amsterdam
Co-production Illusionary Rockaz Company (IRC), Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest (AAO) en Meervaart
Photography © Sjoerd Derine