In Written in Water, Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy explore the concept of spiritual ascension through the 2nd-century Indian board game Paramapadam (upon which Snakes & Ladders is based), the 12th century Sufi text The Conference of the Birds, and the Hindu mythological story Ksheerabthi Madanam. The performance unfolds upon large-scale paintings by Chennai-based visual artist Keshav, projected on the stage floor. Dancers activate the space by negotiating snakes and ladders, representing the heights of elation and the depths of longing in Hindu and Sufi thought. The live music for Written in Water is composed and performed by Amir ElSaffar, interwoven with original South Indian Carnatic compositions by Prema Ramamurthy.

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