Sam Goraya’s Journey: Kundalini awakening and gay pride

In Melbourne’s burgeoning multicultural arts scene, Sam Goraya is no stranger. It was during the pandemic that he premiered Kundalini (more on that later) at Southbank Theatre, only for lockdown to begin the very next day. Now, Goraya returns this September to showcase Kundalini with some intriguing new elements added.

But first, let’s explore Goraya’s dance journey, a story shaped by classical Indian dance and the fierce determination to live authentically as a gay man from a conservative Sikh family.

Growing up in Delhi, he started dancing at five, inspired by his mother. He trained in Odissi until the age of 18, when his changing body and Sikh identity led him to pause and focus on cricket and studies, his friends unaware of his passion for dance.

When the infamous 1984 anti-Sikh riots struck Delhi, Goraya, like many others, cut his hair. At that moment, he told his mother, “Now that my hair is gone, I might as well start dancing again.”

She then sent him to Madhavi Mudgal, a renowned dancer and Padma Shri recipient. Recalling their first meeting, Goraya says Mudgal asked him to show a few steps, then told him to let go of everything he’d learned and embrace her style, which was rooted in the tradition of Kelucharan Mohapatra, the guru credited with reviving Odissi in the 20th century.

Now 62, Goraya has become a celebrated Odissi dancer and a profound storyteller through movement. His upcoming documentary, currently in production, is a bold and intimate portrayal of his journey, expressed through six meticulously crafted scenes. Spoiler alert: “We are dancing my entire life story, showing how amazing this art form is for storytelling.”

Goraya’s journey to this point has not been easy. Coming out as gay in India came with immense pressure. He recalls moments when despair overwhelmed him, yet dance remained his lifeline. “I didn’t want to live a fake life like marrying just to conform. I wanted to live truthfully, with integrity and authenticity.” Over time, his parents’ acceptance became the best thing that happened to him.

His production, Kundalini, is a labour of love, conceived during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally created before lockdowns, Kundalini had only one limited performance in Melbourne before the world shut down. Since then, Goraya has immersed himself in the deep study of Tantric philosophy in Odisha, working closely with Tantric masters and scholars to shape the production’s spiritual and artistic vision.

This September, Goraya returns with Kundalini, joined by his two dancers—Santosh Ram and Samir Kumar—whom he met in 2015 through the Rudrakshya Foundation in Bhubaneswar, led by Bichitrananda Swain, a respected Odissi maestro. Their collaboration is rich and over a decade old.

“Tantra is often misunderstood and feared,” explains Goraya. “But it’s simply a way of life, about how you want to live—whether you stay at the material level or ascend to higher chakras.”

The Kundalini performance is designed to make these hidden philosophies accessible and resonant for everyday audiences, combining classical Odissi dance with symbolic movements inspired by snake-like energy and divine union.

The concept of Kundalini itself means “coil,” symbolising the dormant energy within each person, often depicted as a coiled serpent at the base of the spine, explains Goraya. Through practices like Tantric yoga and spiritual awakening, this energy can rise through the chakras (energy centres in the body) leading to union with higher consciousness. In Goraya’s production, this awakening is portrayed through snake-like movements and symbolic gestures that embody the flow of this primal energy.

Goraya is excited to introduce this time the divine union represented by Radha and Krishna, symbolising the merging of consciousness and soul within us all—creating a layered experience that invites audiences to connect with the subtle energies within themselves.

Goraya shares a long and loving partnership with his Croatian husband, Zlatko Varenina. Together since 2001, their relationship is a creative and emotional anchor, with Varenina handling much of Goraya’s promotion work.

Reflecting on his life and art, Goraya is at peace, having moved beyond the rat race for material success. “Right now, in my whole life, this is the time I’m at peace with everything,” he says.

And it shows. In every measured step, every expressive gesture, and every profound moment on stage.

Kundalini - The Awakening will be performed at Southbank Theatre, The Lawler on 12 and 13 September 2025. Find tickets here

Article by By Indira Laisram:  click here