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When: 19th – 22nd May, 2025Where: Vavla village, Larnaka district, Cyprus
Cost: 370 euros (workshops, evening events, food, airport transport)
Enquiries and bookings
Sophie Fetokaki
+357 99 22 18 42
[email protected]
Sponsored by High Commission of India in Cyprus and Municipal District of Vavla.
We are very lucky to have renowned dhrupad artist Pelva Naik in Cyprus for the first time. Pelva will deliver a four-day retreat during which participants will dive into the ancient Indian practice of dhrupad singing. The retreat is suitable for experienced vocalists and advanced students, but no prior acquaintance with dhrupad is required. Sessions will take place both in the surrounding natural environment of Vavla and in the Cultural Centre, which is housed in the village’s historic school building.
About dhrupad
Dhrupad is a classical raga-based tradition passed on by generations of masters and musicians. Tracing its origins to early 11th century northern India, dhrupad was an important point of departure in the development of Indian classical music, and reflects the diverse socio-cultural and spiritual elements of art and life on the Indian subcontinent. The word dhrupad is derived from “dhruva” and “pada” – dhruva meaning fixed (as in dhruva tara, the north star) and pada meaning part, composition, or verse. Dhrupad therefore translates as a fixed composition. The form is circular, with the trajectories of swara (tone), kālā (time) and shabda (text) always returning to a fixed point.
A central concept in dhrupad singing is the awareness of one’s own inner sounds and vibrations. Performers develop an enormous inner resonance in their bodies, enabling sound to flow freely from the navel to the head, creating a vast palette of swara and sruti (microtones).
The raga is a dynamic musical entity with a unique framework. It is a traditional melodic type in Indian classical music, consisting of a theme that expresses an aspect of bhaav (feeling) and establishes a system in which variations are improvised within a framework of progressions, melodic formulas and rhythmic patterns.
An intricate and extensive alap, the slow, non-rhythmic, contemplative elaboration of the raga, is a hallmark of the Dagar school of music taught by Pelva. The Dagar school is a predominantly vocal school of dhrupad, with sonic explorations unfolding through the use of traditional syllabic grammar and age old voice culture techniques. Following the alap, the rhythmic aspect of dhrupad is based in the traditional tala (metric cycle) structure, the Pakhawaj (barrel-shaped drum) and medieval poetic compositions.
This retreat with Pelva Naik offers a fresh perspective on the form of dhrupad. Alongside the study of structural and formal aspects, participants will seek their own inner authentic voice and reflect on the meaning and purpose of the act of singing and listening. In this way, the lessons of this retreat can be applied to other musical practices, and, beyond the craft of music, to other aspects of lived, embodied experience.
Sessions will include riiaz, or traditional practice routines (such as the predawn kharaj, or lower register practice), immersive Raga explorations, traditional methods of improvisation, a synthesis of traditional and modern voice training methods, study of breath culture, and open dialogue on the poetic, somatic, spiritual and fine art dimensions of dhrupad.
Nature walks, performances, and community gathering events will also take place during the retreat days. These will be announced closer to the time.
About Pelva
Pelva Naik is one of the most acclaimed and admired young dhrupad teachers today, due to her eloquent and easy manner and her passion for relating with every individual seeking to learn and listen. With a large student base in Spain, France, and various pockets across Europe, South America and India, alongside an outstanding and ongoing stage career, Pelva curates and delivers intensive seminars, retreats, and lecture demonstrations for seekers and music enthusiasts, both professional and novice.
Pelva Naik is a student of life and art, hailing from a family of artists and pedagogues. She grew up singing and studying a wide spectrum of Indian folk songs, Gujarati literature, dance, and fine arts. She trained in the dhrupad style of vocal music under the eminent Dagar school of Indian classical music. She is a disciple of legendary dhrupad maestro Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar, and has also received guidance from Rudraveena exponent Bahauddin Dagar.
Pelva imparts her understanding of the interrelatedness between art and life and the necessity to remain open to the spiritual dimensions of all forms of embodied practice. Being among very few female dhrupad artists, Pelva also possesses a rare insight into the relationships of ancient traditions to current questions of power and representation, and how these might be brought together within the terrain of practice itself. Pelva is active in the fight against hierarchy in gender, class, caste, race and religion, both within the field of arts and society at large. Having completed her master's degree in philosophy, she is also deeply interested in history, metaphysics, travelling, reading, writing and painting.
Tools for the retreat
Please bring an exercise mat or flat cushion for sitting on the ground.
Childcare
We want to facilitate the participation of those caring for young children. If enough participants express interest, we will arrange childcare within the village by a qualified provider/s. Costs will be shared between the participants and a fully equipped space will be provided within the home of a community member (all spaces within the village are a short walking distance from one another).
Food
The package includes full catering of fresh, locally-sourced meals for the duration of the retreat. Food is offered in a communal context but participants are free to eat alone if they prefer.
Accommodation
Accommodation options vary, including single rooms, shared rooms, double rooms for couples or friends, and camping. Accommodation options will be discussed with each participant upon booking.
About Vavla
The retreat will take place in the peaceful stone-paved village of Vavla in the Larnaka district of Cyprus. Vavla is a small village located at 450 metres altitude, on the edge of the geological formation of Lefkara (limestone) and volcanic earth of Troodos. The existence of these geological formations and the microclimate of the area allowed the development of rich vegetation, including 3 rare species and 18 endemic plant species. The location of the village offers beautiful views towards Limassol, Larnaka and the Troodos mountains.
Links
About Pelva
General info
Performances
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=Rw2cQ0MLy3i3TfiM&v=1D5QiRdRTyA&feature=youtu.be
Social media
https://www.instagram.com/pelvanaik/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/pelvanaik/
Interview
https://www.darbar.org/artist/Pelva%20Naik
About Vavla
Community council website https://www.vavlavillage.com/en/
“Musical Promenade in Vavla” yearly festival https://www.facebook.com/events/1871446973291094/?active_tab=discussion
Association for the Development of Vavla https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100056730945768
Winter workshops 2024 https://www.facebook.com/events/1569662030646853?active_tab=about
Ecophysis Bee and Nature Centre https://ecophysiscy.com/website/index.php/en/
Church of Panagia tis Agapis https://www.ix-andromeda.com/en/larnaca/panagia-tes-agapes.html
Photo credits: Pelva by Laurent Védrine for ECHO (Paris); Vavla by Emma Louise Charalambous
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Vavla, Larnaka district, Cyprus, Άγιος Γεώργιος, 7713 Βάβλα, Κύπρος,Lefkara, Germasogeia, Cyprus
