ANIKAI Dance Theater premieres The Knocking Within at FringeNYC

If you’re in NYC and looking for something to do the first couple weeks of August, mark Saturday August 11 to Friday August 17th into your calendars! During this time, ANIKAI DANCE COMPANY will participate in FringeNYC for the first time with The Knocking Within, a dance-theater duet.

The reviews so far have been amazing! The Boston Herald newspaper called the show “Gorgeous.” La Tribuna in Italy – raved “Bravissima.” The Hindustan Times in India, called it “Magic.”

Of the main choreographer, Wendy Jehlen, Backstage.com shared,

“Wendy Jehlen is a captivating choreographer, with sharp musical sensibilities, an affinity for the natural integration of modern and world dance styles, and a deep sensitivity to the connections between human body movements and moods.”

“The Knocking Within,” inspired by research into the neuroscience of sleep and the anthropology of dreams, weaves a portrait of two lovers and the nightmares that plague them. It exposes their insecurities, their fears and the violence that lies just beneath the surface. The audience is taken on a emotional journey through dance, forcing them to tackle head on deep issues like domestic violence. The full array of emotions is displayed from the turmoil of the abuser to the voicelessness of the abused. However, the production also focuses on what could happen if the cycle were disrupted. The viewer is offered, if not hope, than at least the hope of other possibilities.

Although the story of a relationship between two lovers, what you will experience is the profound relationship Wendy shares with dance and the arts. The show is one-hour and incorporates many styles – Capoeira, Kalaripayattu, Bharata Natyam, West African dance, and a wide range of Contemporary dance forms – seamlessly into a masterwork. The Knocking Within calls into question the lines we draw between these art forms, between cultures, and even between methodologies.

With text in English, Hindi and American Sign Language, The Knocking Within takes its cue from Shakespeare’s works like Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, Twelfth Night and Titus Andronicus to bring back to life the magic of theater, while also pushing it beyond into the realm of visual communication.

The Knocking Within is performed and co-directed by Wendy Jehlen and Pradhuman Nayak, with light design by Holly Ko. Read below for details on the dates/times of the production!