Autumn Season 2014

For further details about any of sampad’s events visit www.sampad.org.uk or telephone 0121 446 3260

Copies of this programme are available in large print

Sep - Nov

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sampad: promoting excellence and access in south asian arts since 1990

@sampad_arts /sampad.arts

Piali Ray OBE, Director

Photo courtesy Sreenanda Shankar Mish

We have a wealth of colourful events to keep you entertained during the coming months.

In a time of significant cultural and social change, one of Sampad’s key strengths lies in its ability to offer an array of arts experiences that resonate and connect with many different audiences, both South Asian and non-South Asian.

Our events this season range from thought-provoking theatre and dance that reflect some of the hard-hitting issues affecting many communities today (pages 4 & 6), to uplifting music events that acknowledge and celebrate the rich heritage of South Asian arts.

Birmingham-born tabla player Mendi Mohinder Singh unites Eastern and Western classical music as he brings his ground-breaking new work to The Drum as part of its 20th Anniversary celebrations (see opposite).

We are also delighted to welcome The Bangalore Quartet as they present the eclectic sounds of Chakrafonics as part of their UK tour this autumn (page 5).

Don’t forget to keep an eye on our website www.sampad.org.uk and social media feeds for updates about all of our activities, including news about the UK launch of our Inspired by my Museum publication, the culmination of our international writing competition in partnership with the British Council.

Best wishes,

Welcome to our Autumn 2014 season programme

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Sunday 14 September, 4pm

In the World of Nahid SiddiquiA very special opportunity to join visionary dancer and choreographer, Nahid Siddiqui in conversation with Anita Bhalla, as she talks about her life and journey as a dancer and performs excerpts of her work.

The face of Kathak in Pakistan, Nahid’s contribution to the dance form has been truly ground-breaking and influential, blending contemporary and classical practice with her own unique style, expression and formidable technical expertise.

Venue

Hexagon Theatre, mac birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH Tickets

£10 Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 446 3232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk

Saturday 20 September, 7.30pm

United Rhythmsfeaturing Tabla Tarang Orchestral PercussionClassically-trained tabla player and composer Mendi Mohinder Singh has produced three ground-breaking new compositions for orchestral percussion, drawing on African, South American, American and Arabic styles and written in a Western classical context, which he will perform with Birmingham Conservatoire’s Percussion Ensemble.

7th Dan Samurai expert Fay Goodman will also demonstrate a 400 hundred year old Japanese kata (choreographed martial art), accompanied by Mendi playing the old Dhrupad style of Indian classical rhythm on Tabla.

Venue

The Drum, 144 Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham B6 4UU

Tickets

£8 (£6 concs)

Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 333 2444 / www.the-drum.org.uk

Part of The Drum’s 20th anniversary celebrations. Supported by Arts Council England, Sampad, The Drum and Professional Incredibles.

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Wednesday 1 & Thursday 2 October, 8pm

My Name Is...By Sudha Bhuchar Directed by Philip Osment

Presented by Tamasha, this captivating new verbatim play about love, family and ever-shifting identities uncovers a cross-cultural story that began in early

80s Glasgow, long before the ‘tug of love’ tale that hit headlines in 2006.

When Gaby disappeared from her home in Scotland, it seemed that her Pakistani father, Farhan, had kidnapped her. The press was only momentarily silenced when it emerged that she had fled of her own accord. To her mother Suzy’s distress, she turned her back on ‘Gaby’, declaring “my name is Ghazala…”

Post-show Q&A on Wednesday 1 October. Further information online at www.tamasha.org.uk.

Age guideline 14+Venue

mac birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QHTickets

£14 (£12 concs)*Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 446 3232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk

In association with Sampad and mac Birmingham.

*Part of mac birmingham’s multi-buy offer, see www.macbirmingham.co.uk for details.

Saturday 1 November, 7.30pm

Festival of LightsAn evening of joyful South Asian dance to celebrate the magical festival of lights, Diwali.

This family-friendly event captures the spirit of the occasion with an array of colourful and uplifting Bollywood dance by performers of all ages, including Wolverhampton-based company Jai Jashn Dance, popular trio Genda Phool, solo artist Shahzada Kane, Anjali Dance Group and Bollywood Dreams Dance Academy.

The evening also features a special performance by Indranil Ghosh from one of India’s leading exponents of contemporary dance, Tanusree Shankar Dance Company.

‘Out of darkness cometh light…’Venue

Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Wulfruna St, Wolverhampton WV1 1SE

Tickets

All tickets £7

Tickets available from

01902 321 321 www.arena.wlv.ac.ukPresented by Arena Theatre and Sampad.

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l-r: Pramath Kiran, Praveen D Rao, Ajay Warriar and Varijashree V

Sunday 2 November, 4.30pm

The Bangalore Quartet: Chakrafonicsincluding SARGAM South Asian Singing Contest

Venue

The Ruddock Performing Arts Centre at King Edward VI High School, Edgbaston Park Rd, Birmingham, B15 2UA

Tickets

All tickets £6

Tickets available from

0121 472 9585 (1-3pm week days)

www.ruddockpac.co.uk (24hrs)Presented by SPS Arts in association with Sampad.

The Bangalore Quartet will be on tour nationally with Chakrafonics this Autumn. Please check www.sampad.org.uk/events for further details.

Singer Ajay Warriar, singer/flautist Varijashree V and acclaimed multi-instrumentalists Praveen D Rao and Pramath Kiran form this dynamic young band of talented artists who cross musical boundaries with their eclectic performance style.

Chakrafonics mixes traditional Indian classical music, Kannada Light music (poetry) and devotional music with best-loved film hits (old & new) and Ghazals of legendary singers including Ghulam Ali and Jagjit Singh.

A real treat for music lovers!

SARGAM South Asian Singing Contest – apply by 19 September to audition!

The event incorporates SARGAM South Asian singing contest. To take part in the contest, you must apply by Friday 19 September 2014 to audition, visit www.sampad.org.uk/events for full details.

Music and singing contest

06 Information 0121 446 3260

Sunday 16 November, 4pm

Margam – an afternoon of BharatanatyamEnjoy an afternoon of beautiful Indian classical dance from four highly-talented Bharatanatyam performers: Lakshmi Srinivasan, Artistic Director of Ankura Dance Academy, Raneesha Manoharan who has trained and performed extensively in Malaysia, Magdalen Gorringe who has studied Bharatanatyam since her childhood in South India and Jyoti Lata Parwana who trained under Chitraleka Bolar.

Full biographies at www.sampad.org.uk/events Venue

mac birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH Tickets

£10 (£8 concs) Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 446 3232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk

Thursday 27 November, 8pm

A Thousand FacesChoreography: Amina Khayyam

Dancers: Amina Khayyam and Jane Chan

Lighting and production: Stuart Walton

Using classical Kathak dance with puppetry, Amina Khayyam Dance Company tells the story of women from all over the world who have fallen victim to acid attacks – women who are often caught up within cultural expectations and discriminately attacked because of their gender.

There will be a post-performance Q&A with Amina Khayyam and Jaf Shah from Acid Survivors Trust International.Venue

mac birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QHTickets

£14 (£12 concs)* Recommended age 8+Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 446 3232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk

In association with Sampad and mac Birmingham.

*Part of mac birmingham’s multi-buy offer, see www.macbirmingham.co.uk for details.

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Photo: Tahmina Begum

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Join My Route for a taste of Stratford Road!My Route is Sampad’s community heritage project, exploring the changing history of the people, landscape and culture along Stratford Rd in Birmingham since the 1940s.

As well as working with our partner schools and community organisations on several activities that will be based on the project’s heritage themes, Sampad is delivering a series of events that the public can enjoy.

This Autumn we are offering FREE workshops that will give you a special chance to go behind the scenes at some of the most popular restaurants around the Stratford Road area, to hear their stories, learn about their traditions and pick up authentic recipes and tips from their kitchens!

Venue

The workshops will be hosted by Al Faisals (Kashmiri Balti), La Favorita (Italian and Asian) and Gian Carlo’s (Italian) all located around the Stratford Road area in Birmingham.

Dates

Al Faisals: Monday 27 October La Favorita: Thursday 30 October Gian Carlo’s: Wednesday 19 November (All workshops are 2pm-4pm)

Booking

Advance booking is essential and is secured on a first come first served basis. To book your place, please call 0121 446 3260 or email info@myroute.org.uk

Community Workshops

Al Faisals

La Favorita

Gian Carlo’s

SEPTEMBER14 In the World mac Birmingham, 4pm £10 P3 of Nahid Siddiqui Cannon Hill Park

20 United Rhythms The Drum, 7.30pm £8 (£6) P3 Potters Lane, Aston

OCTOBER1 & 2 Tamasha: mac Birmingham, 8pm £14 (£12) P4 My Name Is... Cannon Hill Park

27 My Route Taste of Al-Faisal’s, 2-4pm Free P7 Stratford Road Stratford Road

30 My Route Taste of La Favorita, 2-4pm Free P7 Stratford Road Stratford Road

NOVEMBER1 Festival of Lights Arena Theatre, 7.30pm £7 P4 Wolverhampton

2 The Bangalore Ruddock Performing 4.30pm £6 P5 Quartet Arts Centre

16 Margam mac Birmingham, 4pm £10 (£8) P6 Bharatanatyam Cannon Hill Park

19 My Route Taste of Gian Carlos, 2-4pm Free P7 Stratford Road Stratford Road

27 A Thousand mac Birmingham, 8pm £14 (£12) P6 Faces Cannon Hill Park

All information in this brochure is correct at the time of printing. However, changes may occasionally be necessary and any up-to-date or additional information can be found on the sampad website. sampad apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.

sampad is proud to be supported by the following organisations

You can join sampad’s free mailing list by visiting www.sampad.org.uk

sampad is a registered charity no. 1088995

Post c/o mac birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston B12 9QH

Telephone 0121 446 3260

Email info@sampad.org.uk

Website www.sampad.org.uk

Twitter @sampad_arts

Facebook /sampad.arts

sampad is a dynamic development agency for South Asian arts based in Birmingham.

Education, outreach and lifelong learning is at the heart of all our work. We provide everything from single workshops to long term projects using dance, music, theatre, crafts or literature, for all ages and abilities, working in schools, nurseries, youth centres, community organisations, health settings and more.

To find out more, please get in touch.

Diary of Events Get in touch