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South Asian Dance Festival (taster session)
Join us for a vibrant and welcoming celebration of South Asian dance and music! Over the past two years, our collective of South Asian dance practitioners has come together to share our practice and support one another. Now, with support from the BEYOND fund at The Work Room, we’re excited to invite you to a special taster event.
When:
Saturday 3rd May (part of the Salisbury Centre Community Beltane Celebration)
Time : 17:30- 21:30
How to attend
- Book via eventbrite : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/south-asian-dance-festival-tickets-1317881903249?
- For more into email: [email protected]
Rooms:
- Library 5:30-6:00pm Meet and Greet
- Studio 6:15-7.45pm Dance workshops
- Garden/Studio 7.45-9:30pm performances, sharing sessions, inclusive dance circle, social time
Accessibility:
All rooms except the Studio are fully accessible.
The Studio is currently not fully accessible as there is a staircase to climb. There is a Chair lift installed but we are in the process of getting staff trained to operate it safely.
The Salisbury Centre’s kitchen door and toilet are now wheelchair accessible. The Garden can also be accessed by wheelchairs via a movable ramp via the Art Room Annex. Please let the organisers know in advance of any access requirements.
About the Event:
An Evening of South Asian Dance & Music
Join us for a vibrant and welcoming celebration of South Asian dance and music! Over the past two years, our collective of South Asian dance practitioners has come together to share our practice and support one another. Now, with support from the BEYOND fund at The Work Room, we’re excited to invite you to a special taster event.
This event offers open-level workshops, live music, and engaging conversations, introducing participants to a variety of South Asian dance and music styles. Whether you want to take part or simply enjoy the performances, everyone is welcome—no prior dance experience is necessary!
Expect pop-up performances throughout the event, and we’ll end the evening with an inclusive community dance session in the beautiful garden of the Salisbury Centre.
Come celebrate, connect, and be inspired as we lay the foundation for a future South Asian Dance Festival!
About the Facilitators:
Oxana is a distinguished dancer, choreographer, and dance educator from Kazakhstan. She specializes n Bharatanatyam, the classical dance form of South India, and its fusion with other art and dance forms. Oxana graduated from the renowned Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts in Chennai, India. With 20 years of professional experience, Oxana has performed and taught Bharatanatyam across UK, India, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Hong Kong. She is the founder and director of Cosmic Dance Company (established in Hong Kong in 2009) and the associate artistic director of Beyond Bollywood, Hong Kong. www.cosmic-dance.com
Prathiksha is a Bharatnatyam dancer with 23 years of experience in performing and teaching. She has performed in prestigious occasions like Hampi festival, the art of living centre and other dance festivals in India. Her passion for dance has led her to meet and explore dance in other forms such as contemporary, kathak, mohiniyattam, even Bollywood.
Nikhita (they/them) practice is deeply rooted in their Indian heritage, based primarily on Indian classical dance, which allows them to express themself and connect physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually with themself, their audience and their community. They hope that infusing the movement vocabulary of classical dance styles with the sensuality and earthiness of bellydance and burlesque will help to inspire and liberate femmes, the LGBTQ community and the South Asian community at home and abroad.
Instagram – nikhita.devii
Facebook page – Nikhita Devi Dance and Yoga
While not exhaustive, examples of topics that practices will be based on include the four brahmaviharas, the five clinging aggregates, the three characteristics, the five realms, and dependent origination. The intention is to give participants very concrete, hands-on entry points for folding these themes and practices into their lives, if they so wish.
While these sessions are aimed at those with prior experience with contemplative/spiritual practice, anyone with an orientation towards cultivating a regular practice is welcome. Moreover, while wise sharing and reflection are encouraged in the dedicated portion of the session, please note that this is primarily a practice group.
Suggested donation:
£5 – £8
About Donations:
Participation in our community-led events is on a voluntary ‘by donation’ basis. This means that nobody is expected to make a payment if they cannot afford to do so.
Any donations received will be shared between the Centre and the facilitator, helping to make the events’ programme sustainable as well as to provide some reciprocity towards community facilitators’ time and skills offered.
Where a “suggested donation” is listed, this is just an indication of what the event might cost if it was ticketed.
This is an invitation to practice ‘Dana’ (generosity) – please pay only what you can afford to attend.
To donate:
- bring cash
- donate online on www.salisburycentre.org/donate (Please use reference “EVENT NAME“).
Card payment option available at the entrance hall (Please enter the event name before making payment)
