Performers
Language: English
Gabbu, the Garbage King, was born from human neglect and forgotten waste. One day, a sharp and curious ragpicker finds him. This dance-drama is the playful and imaginative encounter between them.
Through Kathak, contemporary movement, mime, humour and multimedia elements, this performance unfolds as a vibrant fantasy world where discarded objects hold memories and stories of their own. What begins as a chance meeting grows into a journey of discovery, and shared responsibility.
Balancing satire with tenderness, Gabbu Kathe invites children and families to reflect on their relationship with waste, care, and the environment. At the end of the performance, children will be taught a short section of the choreography they witnessed.
Waste is not the end of a cycle, but rather the beginning of a conversation around renewal, empathy and collective action.
Credits:
Concept, Script, Design & Direction: Keerthi Kumar & Roopa Krishnamurthy
Original music score: Praveen D Rao & Sagar Gururaj
Artwork: Rohit Bhasi
Performed: Roopa, Keerthi Kumar, Bharat Rajan, Ashwin
Choreographic Supervision & Lighting Design: Yonitha Jain
Commissioned by Alif Arts as part of BLR Hubba
Produced by ARTMOS
This event is a part of our programming to celebrate World Dance Day 2026, ‘The Many Lives of Dance’.
Performers
Keerthi Kumar and Roopa Krishnamurthy
Keerthi Kumar and Roopa Krishnamurthy are movement arts practitioners who draw from a broad foundation in Indian classical and contemporary forms. They have been training for many years in Kathak at the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography mentored by Guru Dr. Maya Rao and hold a Vidwat certificate, alongside their training in Bharatanatyam. They have explored a variety of movement practices such as Kalaripayattu, Thang-ta and Chhau. In addition to his work as a performer, Keerthi is also a well-known lighting designer, working with leading artistes and companies across the world.
As principal dancers with the Natya STEM Dance Kampni founded by Madhu Nataraj, they have performed widely across India and internationally. Through ARTMOS, they create original dance drama productions for educational institutions, community spaces, and cultural platforms, bringing together their classical grounding and multidisciplinary experience.
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