Social movements — whether they concern race, economic equity or environmental justice — often have one thing in common: They are led and sustained by women. That’s a theme at the core of Ananya Dance Theatre’s latest piece, “Shyamali: Sprouting Words,” which looks at the role of women in fostering dissent, and how protest in turn leads to progress. Dancer Felicia Perry said that throughout the dance, there is an analogy between women who protest and the grass beneath our feet. “Grass can be pretty annoying … in the ways that women are annoying when we speak up and we speak out, but we keep coming back.” “Shyamali” features Ananya Dance Theatre’s signature mix of classical Indian dance, yoga and martial arts. The moves are at times dreamy and sensual, at other times fiercely physical. The dancers are beaten down, and they come back.
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