Temple of Desire

Karma Dance presents Temple of Desire, a visually stunning dance performance that merges ancient Indian culture with contemporary queer and trans narratives, at the iconic Sydney Opera House.

Temple of Desire features 20 dancers of South Asian descent and a trans person of colour actor in an exploration of cultural loss, post-colonial trauma, sexual liberation and their impact on queer rights, women's rights and the trans experience.

Drawing on training in the classical Indian dance form of Bharatanātyam, the dancers rediscover a pre-colonial world where the divine and the sensual unite with splendour and power. A celebratory world where pleasure and joy are not forbidden but are pathways to liberation.

This ground-breaking production addresses the historical acceptance of same-sex relationships in pre-colonial India, juxtaposed with the impact of post-colonial-era laws. By recontextualizing Bharatanatyam's traditional elements with modern attire and innovative choreography, Temple of Desire aims to captivate and challenge audiences - particularly engaging younger generations and those interested in experimental and subversive art forms.

Sumptuous and unapologetically queer, Temple of Desire is an uplifting journey that embraces alternative histories and liberatory futures. Teeming with tradition, yet subversive and unbound, it leads us to a place of beauty, euphoria, joy and deeper human understanding.