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Newsletter, June 2017
From the Director's desk
This newsletter marks an important change as we incorporate the regular southasiandance.org.uk bulletin with Akademi's own newsletter. In the coming months, the websites will also merge. We look forward to celebrating South Asian dance in all its forms across our digital channels.
2017 got off to a fantastic start at Akademi. We were proud to represent Indian dance at Buckingham Palace in February, marking the start of UK-India Year of Culture 2017 – this major bilateral year of cultural exchange is an exciting and ambitious time for Akademi.
The premiere of our new production Paradiso has wowed audiences on the Southbank Centre roof and tours this summer. Meanwhile our international project The Troth, supported by the Arts Council England and British Council ‘Reimagine India’ programme, goes into development this June.
We're also looking forward to discovering some rising South Asian dance stars through our youth dance competition NAVADAL this July. Finally, I am thrilled that Akademi has been awarded Most Enterprising Charity of the Year by Asian Voice Awards. It is a real honour to have Akademi’s work recognised in this way.
Mira Kaushik OBE
News
Understanding the value of the artsPaul Parashar, our Chair of Trustees, writes about the importance of partnerships across sectors in an article published by Charity Clarity. Fitness: What does it have to do with performance in South Asian dance forms?Dance Well Project Officer Claire Farmer, and Seema De Jorge-Chopra, write about the ever-increasing demands of choreography in Pulse. |
The UK-India 100 ListAkademi’s Director Mira Kaushik OBE has been placed in the top 100 most influential people in UK-India Relations. |
Productions
Paradiso: Man's enduring search for perfection
After a successful premiere at Southbank Centre, Paradiso tours the gardens of London this summer, as part of Circulate 2017.
The Troth
As part of UK-India 2017, The Troth will tour both countries in early 2018. Directed and choreographed by the award winning Gary Clarke, with music by Shri Sriram, featuring Akshay Sharma, Dominic Coffey, Deepraj Singh, Songhay Toldon and Vidya Patel. We are grateful to the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Nehru Centre for supporting the project and delighted to announce funding from Cockayne - Grants for the Arts through The London Community Foundation.
Artist Development
Choreography Commissions
New work by five young and bold choreographers was presented at Southbank Centre's Alchemy Festival, to a sold out audience.
Read: The programme
Read: Feature in Pulse
Margam
In March, Akademi presented Sooraj Subramaniam's Margam, at Rich Mix. This evening piloted a new focus for our Artist Development scheme DAREDEVAS; supporting dance artists to collaborate with live musicians.
Watch:
The trailer
Read: Lise Smith's review in Pulse
Education and Community
Reach Out and Reveal
We are delighted to announce that Akademi has been awarded funding by Paul Hamlyn Foundation to work with schools for children with Autistic Spectrum Conditions.
Waltham Forest Tea Dances
Supported by Waltham Forest Culture, these monthly tea dances in Chingford and Leyton attract a friendly crowd who enjoy a twirl around the dance floor.
Dance Well
Dementia Awareness Week
Akademi's Dance Well team was at the Camden Dementia Action Alliance conference and Bazaar 2017 at the Canal Museum. Part of the Dementia Awareness Week held across the UK.
Royal London Hospital Sessions
Dance Well will be taking dance and movement, led by Jesal Patel, to older adults at the Royal London Hospital from June, working closely with the Occupational Therapy Team.
What's on at Akademi
Performance
Paradiso: Man's enduring search for perfection
Sat 1 July, 2pm & 3.30pm
Bell Square, Hounslow, TW3 3NN
An international creative team and a diverse cast come together in a sensual, solar choreography.
Free / Read more
Navadal
Sat 15 July, 2pm
Birmingham Hippodrome
Birmingham, B5 4TB
Akademi’s National South Asian Youth Dance Competition, run this year in partnership with One Dance UK, ISTD and Sampad.
Book Tickets / Read more
Workshops
Dance Well: Free South Asian Dance and Movement Workshops
Fridays, through till 7 July, 11am – 12pm
Kentish Town Community Centre
London, NW5 2SP
With Odissi dancer Maryam Shakiba. No previous experience needed.
Free
What's on in our world of dance
Performance
June
The Bhavan: Ravi Shankar Memorial Concert by Gaurav Mazumdar
Sun 4 June | 6pm
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,
London
Tara Arts: Urban Zikr
Fri 9 June | 7.30pm
Tara Theatre, London
The Bhavan: Karnatic Violin Duet NADOPASANA
Sat 10 June | 6pm
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,
London
Kala Sangam: Reflections by Dr Anilkumar Pillai
Sat 10 June | 7pm
St Peter's House, Bradford
Nehru Centre: Women in Music Festival
Fri 30 June | 6.30pm
Nehru Centre, London
MP Birla Memorial Lecture: My Dance My Life
Sat 17 June | 6.30pm
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
London
Kala the Arts: Divyaa
Sat 18 June | 4pm
The Haymarket, Basingstoke
South Asian Arts-UK: Solstice Festival 2017
Wed 21 June | 5.45pm
Howard Assembly Room, Leeds
Jaivant Patel Dance: Samarpan
Sat 24 June | 7.30pm
Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
Kala Sangam: Krishna Parijatham - Kuchipudi
Sat 24 June | 7pm
St Peter's House, Bradford
The Bhavan: Ravi Shankar Memorial Concert: SITAR-VINA-SANGAM
Sat 24 June | 6.30pm
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London
Milapfest: Music for the Mind & Soul: Sanjay Guha & Sudeshna Bhattacharya
Sun 25 June | 7:30pm
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London
JULY
Kala Sangam: Soulful Sitar
Sat 1 July | 7pm
St Peter's House, Bradford
Jobs and Opportunities
Siobhan Davies: Residency and performance opportunities
Deadline: Mon 12 June
Studio Lambert: Hidden Performer Needed
The makers of ‘gogglebox’ are looking for a hidden performer.
Contact to apply
Hofesh Shechter Company: Apprentice Programme Dance Audition
Deadline: Sun 13 Aug
Audition: 25/26 Aug
CLASSES
WAC Arts: Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre
Audition date: Sun 23 July
Course date: Sep 2017
Wac Arts, London
The Bhavan: Bharatanatyam & Odissi Dance Abhinaya Workshop
Sun 18 June, 11am-1pm
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London
The Bhavan: International Yoga Day
Wed 21 June, 6:30 pm
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London
Images (from top):
Paradiso, 2017, Southbank Centre. Credit: Simon Richardson.
Sufi Zen, 2009. Credit: Pete Schiazza.
Margam (feat. Sooraj Subramaniam), 2017, Rich Mix. Credit: Simon Richardson.
Dementia Awareness Week at Camden Dementia Action Alliance, 2017. Copyright: Camden Council.
YUVA(feat. Santosh Nair), 2016, Southbank Centre. Credit: Simon Richardson.
Photoshoot (feat. Arunima Kumar), 2013. Credit: Simon Richardson.
