From the Directors' desks

And we’re off.... My first weeks at Akademi have been all about joining the team and joining the dots: discovering the full scope of what we do, how we do it – usually with a lot of fun! – and who we do it with. Although it has been full on, it’s also been filled with laughter, support and a real collaborative process with Kirsten and the wonderful Akademi task force of Apollonia, Antareepa, Catherine, Christina, Syd and Peter.

I have been out and about watching lots of great work by artists working with South Asian dance forms mostly at the breath-taking Resolution 2020 at The Place. It has also been a real joy dropping in on artists’ works in progress – and a treat to be able to discuss their process and see work develop. I was in Glasgow and Edinburgh to meet with artists working with South Asian dance forms, dance teachers and directors, hoping to find out how Akademi could support the artists. One of the most humbling experiences I have had this month was visiting two of our artists working in a care home for people living with dementia. The engagement the artists had with the residents was meaningful, tapping into their innate wish to engage with each other. I have been slowly finding out about all the incredible work our artists are doing in hospitals, schools and community centres. I was genuinely shocked to find out just how much work Akademi is currently doing in so many different settings as part of its Learning and Participation programme.

We are very excited to have secured funding from UCL Culture to collaborate with the Intelligent Mobility’s Lab at UCL. More about that in the News section below.

It has been a fascinating, stimulating, captivating month but knowing what we’re cooking up here at Akademi there is much more to come.

And Kirsten says…

Apart from having my head buried in company management accounts (which is actually much more satisfying than it sounds – or perhaps that’s just me?), it’s been wonderful this month to do a bit of dreaming and imagining with Suba and the team about Akademi’s future. I’m now translating those wonderful conversations into a business plan for the next few years – shaping up exciting ideas into a blueprint for Akademi and for the development of our amazing associate artists and audiences present and future.

2020 will also be Akademi’s Heritage Project year – generously supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We’ll be building on the 40th anniversary celebrations with a huge range of community heritage, oral history and performance projects culminating in archiving our comprehensive collection for the Victoria and Albert museum.

Warm wishes, Suba and Kirsten

Hospitals

Akademi provides regular public performances and participatory sessions in London hospitals. These are open to staff, visitors and patients and provide a welcome distraction, bringing colour, music and dance to the hospital. Currently we are working with:

• West Middlesex Hospital in partnership with CW+ charity - Performances in the older adult wards every Thursday, delivered by Elena Catalano.
• Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in partnership with CW+ charity - Atrium and Ward performances on one Thursday of the month. Various artists.
• Charing Cross Hospital in partnership with Imperial Healthcare - Workshop in Lady Skinner Rehabilitation Ward every Monday, delivered by Georgia Cornwell.

Reach Out and Reveal 

Our pioneering initiative placing South Asian dancers ‘in residence’ at schools for young people with Special Educational Needs, kindly supported by BBC Children in Need and John Lyon's Charity. These are a mix of 1:1 and group sessions with young people aged between 5 and 19. We are proud and honoured to be working with:

• Papillon House School in Tadworth, facilitated by Anusha Subramanyam every Wednesday. 
• Manor School in Brent facilitated by Emiko Ishii every Thursday. 
• Cambridge School in White City facilitated by Emiko Ishii every Friday.

Dance Well 

With generous support from City Bridge Trust and The Linbury Trust, Akademi continues to deliver weekly dance and movement workshops at: 

• Wellesley Road Care Home in partnership with Shaw Healthcare, delivered by Archita Kumar and Hiten Mistry
• Holborn Community Association, delivered by Jesal Patel and Priyanka Chauhan
• Newham Hospital in partnership with Vital Arts, delivered by Georgia Cornwell and Sophie Holland
• Third Age Project, delivered by Georgia Cornwell and Hiten Mistry
• Camden Carers, delivered by Jesal Patel and Priyanka Chauhan

New Project: Move Well

We are starting a new project in association with Ageing Better in Camden where our experienced artists will conduct free weekly movement sessions for older people in Camden. These are suitable to people with all abilities.

Starting Sun 19 April 2020,
3.15 pm to 4.45 pm
Talacre Community Sports Centre, London

Find out more: Move Well

Performances

Opportunities

Classes

Images (from top):
Hampstead Heath Photoshoot, 2019. Credit: Souvid Datta.
Ideas workshop, 2020. Credit: Vipul Sangoi.
Dance Well 2019. Akademi archives
APOTHEOSIS at British Museum. Credit: Simon Richardson.