Tappi Odu (Flee) தப்பி ஓடு

My performance captures the journey of leaving behind a homeland and seeking safety—a story woven with trauma, resilience, and transformation. I left Sri Lanka in 1989 and finally arrived in Belfast in 1995, stepping into a world both foreign and full of possibility. This journey, as difficult as it was, reflects a universal experience, shared by so many who must leave behind all they know in the hope of a safer life.

Through movement, I convey the challenges of migration—the feeling of uprooting, of disconnecting from a familiar identity, and the pain of separation from loved ones and places once called home. Yet in the midst of this disorientation lies a deep strength. With each step toward an unknown future, I sought to find pieces of myself, planting new roots in a place that would eventually feel like home.

This performance is more than my story; it is a tribute to those who leave home, sometimes with little choice, and manage to rebuild despite everything. It speaks to the resilience within us all when faced with the daunting task of starting anew, in a world that may not yet understand our journey. Through this piece, I hope to resonate with the countless individuals around the world who navigate similar paths, building lives from the fragments of what they once knew.