UK dancer and choreographer Aakash Odedra joins Richard Watts in studio on SmartArts to discuss Songs of the Bulbul, his acclaimed solo work now playing at Arts Centre Melbourne.

Inspired by the ancient Sufi myth of a nightingale captured and caged for its song, Songs of the Bulbul journeys through beauty, suffering, and transcendence. Aakash reflects on the work as a metaphor for artists, and the continual act of refinement, sacrifice, and giving oneself over to the audience.

“Every time I go on stage, I leave a part of myself there,” describing performance as both an offering and an unknowing act of faith.

The conversation moves through themes of devotion, sensitivity, and endurance, as Aakash speaks candidly about not knowing how to hold back, choosing generosity in the moment, and trusting tomorrow to take care of itself. Though rooted in myth, he stresses the work goes beyond form or tradition - it’s a story of struggle, enlightenment, and the cost of expression itself.