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"I've always wanted to be part of the larger queer community," Hari Krishnan says, "which is why being part of Buddies' season is so special to me." The choreographer's latest show, featuring the premiere of Skin and a reworking of Quicksand (2010), is being presented by Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto's temple of gay-themed culture.

Born in Singapore and trained in India, Krishnan immigrated to Winnipeg in 1991, arrived in Toronto in 2000 and established his company, inDance, in 2006. His choreographic style is a Canadian hybrid, anchored in the classical Indian dance bharatanatyam and infused by Western contemporary dance and ballet.

Krishnan sees Skin as an intensely personal work inspired by three milestones in his life. Quicksand was originally built around the nine emotions categorized by Indian classical dance, but Krishnan has reworked the piece to reflect global changes. "The choreography is similar," he says, "but politics and context have modified the physical language. What moves people is important to me."

Skin and Quicksand are at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre until May 24.

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