Summer Season 2012

Moving EarthSaturday 2 June

May - August

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

Welcome to our Summer season programme!It’s shaping up to be a particularly exciting summer and sampad has a wealth of fantastic events coming up to keep you entertained over the coming months.

Before I touch on some of the highlights of our season, I’m delighted to report that we had an overwhelming response to our international writing competition Inspired by Tagore, with more than 1400 entries from 37 countries! We’ll be publishing the winning entries in a special commemorative book, which will be launched by the British Council in India in May to coincide with the celebrations for Tagore’s 150th birthday anniversary. The two overall prize winners will be revealed at the launch and we’ll be posting the names of all those with winning entries on our website towards the end of the month.

As the final countdown to London 2012 begins, our Dancing for the Games project Moving Earth culminates with all 240 dancers coming together from across the region for a dazzling display of dance, in a lively and colourful free performance in Birmingham on 2 June (see page 6). A selection of Moving Earth groups will also take part in the celebrations to mark the arrival of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay in Birmingham on 30 June.

Finally, sampad is thrilled to be part of the London 2012 Festival, the finale of the Cultural Olympiad which will see artists from all over the world coming together for the biggest celebration of art and culture the UK has ever seen. We’re working closely with leading arts & technology organisation, seeper, to deliver one of our most spectacular and ambitious events to date: Mandala (see page 7).

With enthralling live performances of South Asian dance and music, accompanied by a world-class soundtrack and stunning visual effects, Mandala will be the free outdoor multimedia spectacle not to miss!

For more information about Mandala, Moving Earth, Inspired by Tagore or any of our events or special projects, don’t forget to keep an eye on our website www.sampad.org.uk (where you can also join our mailing list online) or join our rapidly-increasing number of friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter.

Best wishes, Piali Ray OBE, Director

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

www.sampad.org.uk 03

Saturdays, 1pm – 2.30pm

Mid-day MantraA free monthly series presenting music from India to uplift the spirit on Saturday lunchtimes.

19 May Sarvar Sabri presents Synergy, featuring folk songs and rhythms from the northern regions of India, set in a contemporary British soundscape. Sarvar presents a quartet of the UK’s finest musicians whose musical artistry derives from regions of Multan and Punjab.

16 June Yorkshire-based musician Tom Pope adds a little Hindustani twist to the Italian mandolin as he weaves together the sounds of Europe and India. Tom presents an afternoon of rãgas that he has re-shaped through the intricate use of notes; skilfully manipulated and framed with rhythmic patterns of the Tabla.

14 July Manasamitra present Nada Notes. Acclaimed vocalist Supriya Nagarajan is joined by Vijay Venkat (violin and Indian bamboo flute), Martin Teshome (cello), Carlos Uzcategui (piano) and performance artist, Sameer Butt.

For more details of the artists performing visit www.sampad.org.uk

Venue

Symphony Hall Café Bar, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EA

Tickets

FREE

In association with Town Hall Symphony Hall Supported by Arts Council England

Music

sampad has an established programme of education, outreach and learning activities which it delivers within school and community settings, providing quality experiences with professional artists.

If you work within an education or community setting, please visit www.sampad.org.uk/learning or email: education@ sampad.org.uk to find out more about how we can help you to deliver your objectives.

Education and Learning

Clockwise:Tom Pope, Supriya Nagarajan and Sarvar Sabri

04 Information 0121 446 3260

Friday 18 May, 7.30pm

CBSO Friday Night Classics: Burman in Bollywood

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to R D Burman – one of the world’s great film composers – supported by

well-known British Asian artists. Enjoy hits such as Dum Maro Dum and music from award-winning films including 1942: A Love Story. The programme also includes Yeh Dosti, Chura Liya Hai Tumne, O Haseena Zulfun Wali and many more.

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Michael Seal – conductor Shin DCS – vocals Rashid Ali – vocals Sanchita Pal – vocals Shahbaz Hussain – tablaVenue

Symphony Hall, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EATickets

£10.00 – £39.50*Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 345 0603, www.cbso.co.uk

Music

* £2.50 fee per transaction will be charged by THSH Box Office on all bookings, except purchases made in person

In association with East End Foods

Friday 18 May, 6pm

Desi MovesSix of the hottest dance acts battle it out in front of celebrity judges Foji, top Bollywood choreographer, Honey and local street dance champion, Toffee. The show also includes an impromptu audience dance and a live performance by Britain’s Got Talent finalists, Signature. Suitable for all ages.

Venue

Town Hall, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B3 3DQ

Tickets

£6 – £12* (discounts available) Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 780 3333 www.thsh.co.uk

Dance

Sanchita Pal Shahbaz HussainRashid AliShin DCS

* £2.50 fee per transaction will be charged by THSH Box Office on all bookings, except purchases made in person

Presented by Punch, in partnership with International Dance Festival Birmingham (IDFB)

www.sampad.org.uk 05

Sunday 20 May, 11.30am–6pm

Smethwick MelaFamily fun with an Asian flavour including live singers, bhangra bands, dhol players, competitions, a fun fair and food stalls.

Venue

Victoria Park, Smethwick, Birmingham

Tickets

FREE

Music

Photo courtesy of IDFB. International Raw Energy 2008 by Brian Slater.

Saturday 19 May, 7.30pm

InternationalRaw EnergyFollowing its success in the very first IDFB back in 2008, we welcome the return of youth dance extravaganza, International Raw Energy.

Two new youth companies made up of young dancers from across the West Midlands have developed new pieces to be performed in the grand surroundings of Birmingham’s Town Hall: a contemporary company working with Anh Ngoc Nguyen (previously a dancer/choreographer with Wayne McGregor/Random Dance) and a Bollywood company working with Delhi-based Sadhya Dance Company.

The evening’s programme also includes exciting performances of existing work by some of the best dancers and youth dance companies in the region.

Venue

Town Hall, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B3 3DQ

Tickets

£12 (£10 conc*) Group rates available

Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 780 3333 www.thsh.co.uk

* £2.50 fee per transaction will be charged by THSH Box Office on all bookings, except purchases made in person

Presented by International Dance Festival Birmingham 2012, in partnership with sampad and Birmingham Town Hall

Dance

06 Information 0121 446 3260

Saturday 2 June, 2.45pm

Moving EarthMoving Earth is a lively dance project taking place across the West Midlands this summer.

sampad has brought together 240 dancers (20 groups of 12)

from across the region representing a dazzling array of styles including Bollywood, bhangra, Indian folk dance, hiphop and contemporary African and UK dance.

With direction from internationally-renowned dancer Santosh Kumar Nair, the groups have developed new dance routines inspired by the theme of ecology.

All 240 dancers will come together on 2 June for a colourful and visually–striking performance that captures the spirit and energy of the natural elements: space, air, fire, water and earth.

The performance forms part of Birmingham’s Big Jubilee Weekend, a 4 day extravaganza of music and entertainment taking place in the city centre 2–5 June to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Venue

Chamberlain Square, Birmingham City Centre

Tickets

FREE

A selection of Moving Earth groups will also perform in Cannon Hill Park on 30th June, as part of a day of celebrations to mark the arrival of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay in Birmingham.

Moving Earth is part of Dancing for the Games, which is part of the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands, funded by Legacy Trust UK and Arts Council England.

Dance

Phot

o by

Dee

Pat

el

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Mandala is part of the London 2012 Festival, the spectacular 12-week nationwide celebration running from 21 June until 9 September 2012 bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK.

Friday 7 September Chamberlain Square, Birmingham Performances at 8.30pm and 9.30pm

Sunday 9 September Old Market Square, Nottingham Performance at 8.30pm

MandalaMandala is a bold new collaboration that will see Birmingham Town Hall and Nottingham Council House spectacularly illuminated in a mind-bending illusion of colour and light. Fusing live 3D projections with international and British Asian music and dance, appearances will not be all they seem…

The buildings will be brought to life and transformed from their classical facades into breathtaking new forms using projections that jump out towards you and stunning visual effects triggered by live dance and music.

Mandala will take you on a journey of discovery and leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.

With live music performed by Talvin Singh and live contemporary and classical dance, including performances by Devika Rao and Aakash Odedra, featuring pre-recorded tracks by world-class musicians Anoushka Shankar and Zakir Hussain, Mandala will be THE free outdoor multimedia spectacle not to miss!Tickets

FREE

A production by Sampad in partnership with Seeper

Live Music and Dance

www.sampad.org.uk/special-projects www.wefund.com/project/mandala-0

Wednesday 13 June, 8pm

Raghu DixitRaghu Dixit’s self-titled debut album spent months in the world music charts as he impressed British audiences with his powerful, soulful vocals and rousing blend of Indian and Western influences.

Winner of the Songlines Newcomer Award 2011, he is busy working on a second album featuring songs in Kannada, Hindi, English and Tamil. He visits Town Hall to showcase the new album along with favourites from his debut.

Venue

Town Hall, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B3 3DQ

Tickets

£15* (Stalls Standing Area) £17* (Circle Reserved Seating) 20% discount for students Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 780 3333 www.thsh.co.uk

* £2.50 fee per transaction will be charged by THSH Box Office on all bookings, except purchases made in person

Music

Tuesday 22 May, 7.30pm

KathakboxKathakbox is the latest production from Sonia Sabri Company celebrating the diverse energy of modern Britain through a brand new dance style: Urban Kathak.

The show brings together the grace and vigour of Indian Kathak dance and the rhythms & rhymes of hip hop culture. Classical rhythms converse with beatbox and the verbal dexterity of Kathak rap (Kavitt) layers with urban poetry.

“ I felt like jumping up onstage to join them... uplifting and highly enjoyable.”

Londondance.com

Venue

Solihull Arts Complex, Homer Road, Solihull, B91 3RG

Tickets

£10 (£9 concessions), £7 children

Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 704 6962 www.solihullartscomplex.co.uk

Dance

08 Information 0121 446 3260

Raghu Dixit

Kathakbox

Friday 22 June, 7pm

Ustad Tari KhanAn evening of ghazal and tabla with the world-renowned tabla maestro.

Ustad Tari Khan has performed in virtually every part of the globe, captivating audiences by his extraordinary versatility. His work has led to collaborations with artists and producers from all spectrums of the musical world, including acclaimed producer Rick Rubin, and he has composed music for documentaries and films such as Mira Nair’s Mississippi Masala.

“ A powerhouse of skills, technique, knowledge, and showmanship, he had the audience in his grip.”

All Pakistan Music Conference Review

Venue

Wolverhampton Racecourse, Dunstall Park, WV6 0PE

Tickets

£10 Ticket Office/Online Booking

www.ustadtarikhan.eventbrite.co.uk

Presented by Azaad Arts

Music

Saturday 23 June, 4pm

Wild ChildStorytelling, South Asian and Australian dance, live music, haunting puppetry and wild digital projections swirl together in Moby Duck’s unique and unmissable performance of Wild Child – a new story for young people aged eight and over and their families and friends.

“ A vivid experience of the sounds, colours and stories of Indian culture”

Time Out

Venue

Arena Theatre Wolverhampton, Wulfruna St, Wolverhampton WV1 1SE

Tickets

All tickets £5

Ticket Office/Online Booking

01902 321 321 www.arena.wlv.ac.uk

Theatre and Dance

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Saturday 14 July, 1pm–7pm

Sampad Arts MelaCome and join us for a celebration of dance, music, poetry, storytelling, arts and crafts fun for all the family.

There’s a lot to take part in all day from 1pm to 7pm: you can visit the food bazaar which will be selling South Asian delicacies, or try your hand at jewellery-making and henna workshops for all ages – and much more!

3pm to 5pm Dance Showcase in the main theatre A rare chance to see some local up-and-coming dance artists and groups in Bollywood, bhangra, urban, classical and contemporary South Asian dance styles.

Tickets

£5

7pm Bollywood music and dance Come and enjoy a special family evening with a selection of timeless, romantic Bollywood classics, including a tribute to Dev Anand, followed by live songs and dance performances from local Indian dance companies and artists.

Tickets

£6 (£5 concessions)

Venue

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

Ticket Office/Online Booking

www.arena.wlv.ac.uk 01902 321 321

10 Information 0121 446 3260

Family Fun!

Background photo: RKL photography

www.sampad.org.uk 11

Sampad is proud to be supported by the following organisations:

Moving Earth:

Mandala:

MAY18 Burman in Symphony Hall, 7.30pm £10–£39.50 P4 Bollywood Birmingham

18 Desi Moves Town Hall, Birmingham 6pm £6–£12 P4

19 Mid-day Mantra Symphony Hall Café Bar 1pm FREE P3

19 International Town Hall, Birmingham 7.30pm £12 (£10) P5 Raw Energy

20 Smethwick Mela Victoria Park, 11.30am FREE P5 Birmingham –6pm

22 Kathakbox Solihull Arts Complex 7.30pm £10 (£9) P8

JUNE2 Moving Earth Chamberlain Square 2.45pm FREE P6 Birmingham

13 Raghu Dixit Town Hall, Birmingham 8pm £15–£17 P8

16 Mid-day Mantra Symphony Hall Café Bar 1pm FREE P3

22 Ustad Tari Khan Wolverhampton 7pm £10 P9

Racecourse

23 Wild Child Arena Theatre, 4pm £5 P9 Wolverhampton

JULY14 Mid-day Mantra Symphony Hall Café Bar 1pm FREE P3

14 Sampad Arts Arena Theatre, 1-7pm Various P10 Mela Wolverhampton

SEPTEMBER7 Mandala Chamberlain Square, 8.30pm FREE P7 Birmingham & 9.30pm

9 Mandala Old Market Square, 8.30pm FREE P7 Nottingham

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.

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

sampad is a registered charity no. 1088995

By postc/o mac birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston B12 9QH

By telephone 0121 446 3260

By email info@sampad.org.uk

Visit our website www.sampad.org.uk

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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.

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