COMMONS Festival 2023: South Asian Strand
Stanley Arts supports our South Asian Community, from hosting our Holi event in March and celebrating Diwali last winter, we are very excited to have South Asian representation featured in our COMMONS Festival 2023; a curated dance festival of performances, workshops and exhibitions that blurs the lines between audiences and performers.
Akademi, one of our key partners will be bringing a wide range of events you can take part in. Whether you’re new to the scene or an expert dancer – there’s something for everyone. They are a dynamic and future facing organisation, with a vision that professional South Asian dance is thriving at the centre of British culture.
South Asian Strand of COMMONS Festival 2023
On Saturday 20th of May, the South Asian community will be present at our mixed-bill Extravaganza as we will witness and encapsulate a performance entailing of three genres in one extraordinary and unforgettable event!
Sunday 21st May – Beeja Dance presents: Choogh Choogh – Choogh Choogh is a performance work inspired by the joy for travelling through India on a train. It combines classical Indian dance with contemporary movement, theatre and play, sharing with audiences a world full of colour, invention and flow.
Tuesday 16th May – Akademi presents: Contemporary Bollywood with Aanchal Gupta – An hour-long workshop is designed to you give a fun-filled experience of India through Bollywood music and dance. The class will be tailored to all levels with easy-to-do steps, hand gestures, and dramatic facial expressions. Come learn the popular Bollywood moves with technical breakdowns and dance to the most trending songs.
Monday 22nd May – Akademi presents: Understanding Bharatanatyam’ – Open to all with Mathangi – This session will offer participants an opportunity to understand Bharatanatyam through an interactive session with a 3rd generation artist Mathangi Keshavan.
Tuesday 23rd May – Akademi presents: Breakdance and Bharanatyam with Shreya – Gain insight into the intricacy of Bharatanatyam (Indian classical) and let loose with some Breaking (Breakdance). This workshop is open to all ages and abilities focusing on beginners level. Shreya welcomes you to try something new!
Wednesday 24th May – Akademi presents Elemental: Forces of Nature – Three different dance forms, three performances and three participatory experiences, curated by Akademi.
Join the conversation and keep tagging us in your pics and vids, and use the hashtags #DanceForAll & #CommonsFestival23.
Photography credit to Vipul Sangoi.






