HYPHENATED was premiered on September 27 & 28, 2002 during Life Lines: an evening of women's lives in dance and theatre presented by Lata Pada and Sampradaya Dance Creations at Harbourfront Centre's Premiere Dance Theatre, Toronto, Canada.

Four dancers explore the hybridity in their lives as second generation South Asian - Canadian women. Straddling the cultural worlds of East and West, they constantly negotiate their diverse and often conflicting identities. In speaking of the work, Ratnam noted, "It is the hyphen that connects who we are and identifies our inner selves. It is in that state of hyphenation that we live our daily lives, comfortable in our dual skins."

Of the 12 million South Asians living outside their native homelands, the diaspora which engages with life in North America is particularly interesting. It is a demographic and sociological phenomenon at how smoothly these immigrants have been able to imagine their homelands and intersect with the great North American dream. Affluence, upward mobility, status, achievement have not come without their share of conflicts and identity struggles.

HYPHENATED takes a peek through the psychological and emotional window of Canadian-born South Asians: the negotiations with their cultures and their vigorous daily engagement with traditional parents and contemporary ideas. Confidence is mixed with conflict, desires delicately laced with tiptoeing through the minefield of two worlds, one imagined and one real.

Janus-faced and confident, the current generation plunges into their unique lives. Bollywood movies blend with temple sculptures, values blur and are redefined in a new time and space…

Is the idea of South Asia a geographical border or a desire? Are they creating fictions, not actual cities but invisible ones, imaginary homeland? Are they South Asians of the mind?