No Images? Click here Newsletter | September 2017 From the Director's deskSummer of 2017 has been intensely busy for Akademi. Paradiso has journeyed the capital, with 10 performances across London. Thank you to the wonderful creative team and cast led by Jose Agudo who brought vision and inspiration to this piece. Also, many thanks to Nina Head, Circulate Consortium, Southbank Centre and Horniman Museum for making this possible. As we say goodbye to Giulia Ghinelli and welcome Pia Zicchi, our new Dance Well Project Assistant, we are very proud to release the new Dance Well Resource Book created by the project team. We hope this will be helpful to the artists. Finally, I was lucky to spend a few days at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where I attended British Council's reception and saw many exciting shows, including Amina Khayyam’s SLUT, Seeta Patel’s Sigma and Aakash Odedra’s #JeSuis. Warmest congratulations to Aakash for receiving the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award 2017 for his spectacular and powerful work. Mira Kaushik OBE News
ProductionsThe Troth / Usne Kaha ThaMomentum is picking up for The Troth / Usne Kaha Tha, Akademi’s brand new international production. Watch this space for performance dates - announcing soon. Stay updated with The Troth by liking its dedicated Facebook page. ParadisoAkademi took its final excursion to Paradiso this weekend with a performance at Deptford Market Yard closing our summer tour with Circulate, and two spectacular performances at Horniman Mela. See: Images from the Horniman Museum PerformancesBringing India to CamdenAkademi recreated India at Camden Kalā and Drummond Street Festival, organised by Camden Council to celebrate the UK-India Year of Culture. There were Indian folk dances, henna artists, Indian music and more. Pictured above Devonshire Square dazzles with colours of IndiaOver a seven-week programme, Akademi took Devonshire Square on a journey through Indian dance styles in further celebrations of the UK-India Year of Culture. Education and CommunityBollywood in Bell SquareOn 12 August Hounslow's Bell Square transformed into a big Bollywood party. Circulate Consortium commissioned Akademi to present Bollywood fusion dance troupe Epika Dance Troupe and run workshops for local residents. Reach out and Reveal: Artists in residenceOur new autism project Reach Out and Reveal will launch in mid-September at Papillon House and Sherwood Hill schools. Anusha Subramanyam and Priyanka Chauhan will be ‘in residence’ at these schools for young people with Special Educational Needs. Dance WellDance Well Artist TrainingA two-day artist training took place in August, featuring workshops and sharing to equip them to deliver effective dance and movement programmes for older adults. Pictured above A new resource book for artistsWe have collated a Dance Well Resource Book that draws on our experience of working with older adult groups. Artists can find exercises and activities specific to South Asian dance forms, which can now be downloaded or ordered (for free!) . Download: Dance Well Resource Book Bollywood For AllThis autumn, Akademi will deliver a new inter-generational project in collaboration with Holborn Community Association and Bloomsbury Festival, providing dance classes for older adults and young people, with support from Camden Council and Young Camden Foundation. Meet the Team: Pia Zicchi“I am so excited to join Akademi as the new Dance Well Project Assistant. In such a short space of time, I already feel like part of the team and look forward getting stuck into this role. I can see the connections which Akademi has already established with a variety of groups in Camden, and how they bring South Asian dance to older adults with low mobility, lung and heart conditions and dementia sufferers and their carers. I will be attending as many workshops as possible, so I can see first-hand how these dance styles are used to engage others and I look forward to meeting new people and making new connections along the way.” What's on at AkademiPerformanceViplavFri 21 Oct, 7.30pm Akademi presents Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam, a rarely seen dance style from Kerala, in this specially curated evening featuring Geetha Sridhar and Shalini Shivashankar. Book TicketsDance Well WorkshopsBollywood For All at Bloomsbury FestivalSun 22 Oct, 2.30 pm Learn a short Bollywood dance routine, suitable for all abilities. Read moreHarefield Library workshops with Rachel Waterman and Hiten MistryFridays from 1 Sep, 2pm Contact to bookSt Pancras and Somers Town Living Centre workshops with Jane ChanThursdays from 14 Sep, 2pm Open to attendCamden Carers, workshops for those living with dementia and their carersMondays from 2 Oct, 2pm Contact to bookWhat's on in our world of dancePerformanceSeptemberKala Sangam | Marcus Levine - Hockney, A Portrait In Nails Divya Kasturi Company | To Varnam … with love Nupur Arts | Discover Arts Award AIPA | Krishnamayi Sama Arts | KhayalFEST: Deepa Hattangadi Karnad Sama Arts | KhayalFEST: Swati Natekar Kamala Devam Company | Artists Takeover Scratch Night Sonia Sabri Company | Dastaan Kala Sangam | Vyuhalakshmi Aavirbhavam Sampad | Rangeeli Colours of Birmingham Parade at Birmingham Weekender Sampad | South Asian Medley at Birmingham Weekender Sonia Sabri Company | Salaam OctoberUpahaar School of Dance | Nrithya-Upahaar 2017 Divya Kasturi Company | An evening of South Asian Music and Dance Nupur Arts | The Story of Light ATMA Dance | The Magic Fish: Autumn Tour 2017 Kamala Devam Company | Amphora Jobs and OpportunitiesPagrav Dance Company | Education Officer Pagrav Dance Company | Arts and Marketing Administrator Pagrav Dance Company | Relation Development Officer CLASSESNupur Arts | Autumn Term Wac Arts | Taster Day Srishti - Nina Rajarani Dance School | Autumn Term Natyanjali Dance School Cambridge | Bharatanatyam Beginners Images (from top): Paradiso: Man’s enduring search for perfection, 2017, West Silvertown. Credit: Nina Head. |