The hidden heroines of legend and history come together in this mesmerising solo.

Join us for this intricate solo piece from renowned choreographer and performer Pagrav Dance Company Artistic Director Urja Desai Thakore. In ROOH: Within Her, Urja explores narratives in quiet, everyday, heroism across two millennia.

Embodying a celebrated figure in ancient Tamil literature, she presents the mother who scours the battlefield in search of her son’s body, determined to disprove rumours he died fleeing the enemy. Inspired by Gujarati author Zaverchand Meghani’s Chaaran Kanya, she plays the folk heroine Heerbai; a young woman who is the only one in her village brave enough to drive away an attacking lion.

Other inspirational figures – some lost in time, others lesser-known – take centre-stage as Urja connects distant past and recent history. See how all these seemingly minor narratives influence our current and future selves.

Rooh is a new production by Pagrav Dance Company, supported by Arts Council England, Milton Keynes City Council, Sadler’s Wells, South East Dance, SAA-UK, and Gem Arts.

Header image description: A solo performer faces the camera with one hand extended outward as if to stop someone, while the other hand is raised near their eyes, poised to jab something with a sword. They wear a gold-embroidered top with visible purple underneath and a gold ring.

Header image © Pari Naderi