“Kundalini: The Awakening”- Odissi Dance Brings Ancient Spirit to Auckland Stage

This October, Auckland audiences will witness an extraordinary blend of spirituality and stagecraft with Kundalini: The Awakening, an Odissi dance performance inspired by the ancient science of Tantra. The production will be staged on 5th October 2025 at Q Theatre, Auckland.

The performance brings together Melbourne-based Odissi dancer Sam Goraya with two master exponents from Odisha, India, Samir Panigrahi and Santosh Ram of the prestigious Rudraksya Foundation. Together, they will present a powerful journey that explores the awakening of divine feminine energy, known in Tantric philosophy as Kundalini Shakti.

Odissi, one of India’s eight classical dance forms, is renowned for its lyrical grace, intricate rhythms, and spiritual depth. In Kundalini- The Awakening, audiences will see how the form, rooted in temple traditions, conveys the ascent of Kundalini energy through the chakras to unite with Shiva, symbolising enlightenment and transformation.

For Goraya, the production is both a personal and cultural offering.
“This project has been over a year in the making, created in collaboration with Tantric scholar Shrimati Sutapa Patnaik, composer Shri Ramahari Das, rhythm maestro Shri Dhaneswar Swain, and choreographer Shri Bichitrananda Swain from Odisha. It is my way of honouring a tradition that has given me so much, and of sharing its beauty and depth with Auckland audiences,” he said.

Beyond choreography and music, the performance reflects Goraya’s journey of identity and belonging. Raised in a Sikh family and later migrating to Melbourne, he found in Odissi not only a cultural connection but also a spiritual language of self-realisation.

With its fusion of symbolic storytelling, meditative elegance, and evocative staging, Kundalini – The Awakening promises more than entertainment. It offers audiences an immersive experience where dance becomes a form of meditation and performance becomes a prayer.

“In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, traditions like Odissi are often at risk of being forgotten,” Goraya reflected. “My hope is that this performance will not only entertain but also remind us of the timeless wisdom these traditions carry, wisdom that speaks to our inner well-being and search for meaning.”

Tickets for the performance are now available through Q Theatre.