top of page

Sembah: Reimagining Odissi - January Low

A solo dance performance by January Low that honoured the classical Odissi tradition while embodying a contemporary Southeast Asian identity.

4 July 2025

About

Sembah was a solo performance by Malaysian dance artist January Low, rooted in the over 2,000-year-old Odissi tradition. Premiering at Oddbird, the title came from the Malay gesture of reverence - palms lightly joined at the chin - a symbol that reflects the essence of the work: honour, presence, and offering.

Structured as a series of reimagined classical pieces, the performance drew from Low’s rigorous training in the guru shishya parampara and her lived experience as a Southeast Asian woman practicing Indian classical dance.

Performed by January Low
Photography by Akhila Misra

A glimpse

bottom of page