CURRENT: O GHOSTLY ANCESTOR

O Ghostly Ancestor is a participatory performance / community ritual being developed by dance artist Parijat Desai with her group Parijata Performance Projects. Our intentions are to honor the gifts of the Ancestors and release what we no longer need, and strengthen our connection to Earth and community. OGA has won support from MAP Fund (national), New York State Council on the Arts (Choreography Commission), Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (Creative Engagement / UMEZ), Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance, and City Parks Foundation (Green Fund Grant), and Denver’s SCFD (Scientific and Cultural Facilities District).

O Ghostly Ancestor integrates contemporary dance, martial art, and Gujarati circle dance with experimental theater. Meet the NYC Performers in our very first public showings of OGA (2025). Parijat will work with a new cast of Dancers and Community Leaders/Elders in Colorado in 2026!

In O Ghostly Ancestor, we aim to foster a space of belonging for Witnesses, so on arrival, Performers and Community Members welcome them. The performance is initiated with a powerful Warrior-Witch dance to protect the space for our ritual. Then invited Community Leaders / Elders invoke and dialogue with the Ancestors, with the help of the Performers and Tree Branches.

We will provide support for audience participation, guiding Witnesses to breathe together and write your own statements of honoring / releasing to place on our altar. The performance concludes with a Circle Dance, and Witnesses will be invited to get up and join—or just clap along!