On October 29th, 2026, Guelph Dance and River Run Centre are co-presenting Svāhā! by Nova Dance on the River Run Centre’s Main Stage. Svāhā!, created by award-winning dancer choreographer Nova Bhattacharya, is a celebration of dance as a revitalizing ritual that brings us closer together. It is an offering of movement, music, colours and sensations.
Svāhā! embodies the transformative power of dance, expressing the uniqueness of the individual and the value of community. Dancers surrender themselves, sparking the imagination, conveying a range of thoughts and sensations through movement and creating rhythm with their entire beings.
Nova Bhattacharya (Nova Dance) invites auditions for an opening invocation performance, The Body Choir, presented alongside Svāhā! on October 29th at the River Run Centre.
The Body Choir Project is an opportunity for dancers of all forms to learn from professionals, to immerse in the rehearsal process, learn new techniques, cultural practices and to perform on the stage at the River Run Centre prior to the main performance of Svāhā!
Audition: Tuesday July 14th, 7:00-10:00pm, Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan St
This call for dancers is open to all women identifying dancers aged 16+. Dancers with a practice in any genre are encouraged to audition, including but not limited to: Indian Classical forms, Belly Dance, Street Dance, Latin Ballroom, African forms, Contemporary, Folk Dance, Jazz, and/or fusion styles.
Please fill out the following form to sign up for the audition:
The Body Choir dancers must be available for the following dates:
Tuesday July 14 – Audition (7pm-10pm), Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan St
Friday Sept 18 – Rehearsal (6pm–9pm), Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan St
Saturday Sept 19 – Rehearsal (10am–3:30pm), location TBA
Friday Sept 25 – Rehearsal (6pm–9pm), Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan St
Saturday Sept 26 – Rehearsal (10am–3:30pm), location TBA
October 28 – Tech rehearsal at theatre (Call time TBA)
October 29 – Show at theatre (Call time TBA, show is at 7:30 PM)
All rehearsals, tech rehearsal and show will take place in Guelph, ON.
Video: Svāhā! The Making of Body-Choir
This video documents the process of the Body Choir created and presented in Vancouver, BC.
Video Credits: Indian Summer Festival, Simon Fraser University, and Dance House and Nova Dance.
Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann