Svāhā! by Nova Dance
October 29th, 2026
7:30 PM
River Run Centre, Main Stage
Co-presented by Guelph Dance and River Run Centre
Tickets Prices:
$49.00 Regular
$47.00 Over 60
$29.00 Under 30
$20.00 Sliding Scale
$10.00 Sliding Scale
Guelph Dance is thrilled to partner with River Run Centre to bring the illustrious work Svāhā! by Nova Dance to Guelph this fall!
“In the hour that separates its rousingly cacophonous opening from its joyously freewheeling finale, choreographer Nova Bhattacharya’s new work “Svāhā!” takes audiences on an imaginative journey into the heart of dance as a transformative experience and a way of bringing people together.” – Michael Crabb, Toronto Star
A cast of 16 performers from a diversity of dance forms and cultural backgrounds, comes together in a collage of moving images, pulsating rhythms and intense emotions. Expressing the uniqueness of the individual and the value of community, Svāhā! is an offering of dance, music and joy!
Show Trailer
About the Work
Conceived and choreographed by Nova Bhattacharya, Svāhā! is a rallying cry for unity, and a celebration of life itself. A high-energy spectacle, this rich work fuses nearly 30 distinct dance traditions – from Bharatnatyam to Butoh, Jazz to Salsa – into a singular, joyful experience. A cast of 16 vibrant performers lend their individuality to an intricate and expansive choreography, creating a communal experience that answers the isolation and societal fractures of our times with jubilant defiance. Svāhā! is an event teeming with life, bursting with colour, and centering the compassion of shared humanity. Its original score by tabla virtuoso Ed Hanley and dynamic lighting design by Simon Rossiter heighten the experience, making Svāhā! a compelling call for community, diversity, and collective wonder.
About the Company
Nova Dance is a defining presence in the evolution of Canadian contemporary performance. Founded in 2008 by Nova Bhattacharya, this Toronto-based diversiform company creates genre-defying work that embraces a rich multiplicity of movement and storytelling traditions, with Bharatanatyam as a vital thread. Grounded in a belief in dance as a revitalizing ritual, the company creates experiences that connect communities and cultures through the transformative power of movement. Collaborating across disciplines and geographies, Nova Dance produces work ranging from intimate solos to large-scale ensemble creations, known for technical virtuosity, vivid imagery, and emotional depth.
Creative Team
Choreographer: Nova Bhattacharya
Lighting and set design: Simon Rossiter
Costume: Sage Paul, Nova Bhattacharya, Val Callam
Creation support: Bonnie Kim, Louis Laberge-Côté, Tedd Robinson, Anisa Tejpar
Stage manager: Marianna Rosato
Photo by Four Eyes Portraits