Inbal Oshman M Stabat Mater M is the most common sound in the word "mother" in languages around the world. Indeed, Inbal Oshman's dance piece is a journey of movement and emotion, exploring various aspects of motherhood.

The ancient hymn “Stabat Mater” is dedicated to the Sorrowful Mother. Oshman has created a contemporary dance for it, taking inspiration from the myth of Mary as well as other mythical Mothers and Mother-Goddesses such as the dark violent Hindu Goddess Kali and the Four Matriarchs of the Bible. Each of these myths reveals another aspect of motherhood – divine or worldly, heavenly or human. These aspects penetrated into the dance piece through movements and postures, body and mind.

The dance took inspiration from iconography of Goddess Kali, classical Indian dance traditions and sculptures and paintings of the Pieta and Jesus. Thus, ancient myths of motherhood merged with the experience and insight of the choreographer as a mother.

The dance explores the strength and pugnacity characterizing motherhood on the one hand, and its very vulnerability and tenderness on the other hand. It does so with much subtlety and mindfulness.

The Israeli premiere of M is being staged following its first performance at the International Dance Festival in Bangalore, India.

 

Choreography: Inbal Oshman

Music: Stabat Mater by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

Musical performance: Early music ensemble "Chiaroscuro"

Photographer and Editor: Sagie Baron. Video taken at Peak Performances, Alexander Kasser Theater, MSU, New Jersey. 

Artistic director: Jedediah Wheeler