Autumn Season Sept-Dec 2017
Harminder the elephant
Copies of this programme are available in large print
0121 446 3260 sampad.org.uk
Welcome to our Autumn 2017 season programme The Sampad team has been busier than ever during this exceptionally exciting and high-profile year for South Asian arts. During a year that marks the 70th anniversary of the Partition of the Indian subcontinent and the UK-India Year of Culture, we’ve been working closely with Birmingham City Council to support Utsav 2017, a year-long celebration of South Asian arts and culture. In September we join hands with our Culture Central partners as we play a prominent role in this year’s Birmingham Weekender festival, helping to bring an Asian flavour to the city’s largest arts festival with a range of exciting events. In October, we’re delighted to be part of BEDLAM Arts & Mental Health Festival led by Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust. As part of this, we present our new commission Kahaani, which reflects personal stories around mental health that will resonate across communities. Sampad’s new exhibition ‘The People of Partition in Birmingham’ opens in November at Soho House. Supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, it champions local stories and insights while examining themes around collective displacement. Don’t forget that you can stay up-to-date with our latest news and events by joining our mailing list online via sampad.org.uk or following our social media channels, including our brand new Instagram account!
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sampad.org.uk | 0121 446 3260
Piali Ray OBE, Director
Dance Photo by Rajendra K
Community Parade
Free Event!
Free Event!
Saturday 23 September, 11am
Saturday 23 September, 12pm
Rangeeli Colours of Birmingham Parade at Birmingham Weekender
All the colours of Birmingham come to life in this spectacular city-wide parade which celebrates the heritage of the city with a South Asian twist-Utsav (festival) style! Participants will show off a colourful kaleidoscope of flags, masks, hand-held puppets, costumes and Patang South Asian kites - accompanied by Harminder, an amazing, life-size, mechanical elephant born from reclaimed bicycle parts, metal and other recycled materials! Venue Birmingham city-centre Beginning at High Street, moving down New Street towards Victoria Square Further information birminghamweekender.com @BhamWeekender # birminghamweekender The Parade has been part-funded by Birmingham City Council’s Culture on our Doorstep scheme. Presented by Sampad and Birmingham Weekender with artistic direction by Manuela Benini. Supported by Northfield Arts Forum, Birmingham Hippodrome, Number 11 Arts and mac Birmingham. Birmingham Weekender is brought to the city by Culture Central, the cultural development agency for Birmingham.
South Asian Medley at Birmingham Weekender’s Square Dance
Prepare to be thrilled by dazzling South Asian dance styles, from dramatic Kathakali and striking Yakshagana to uplifting Bollywood moves, featuring leading regional and international artists including Devika Rao, Sonia Sabri Company, Nachda and Giddha Sansaar, RSA Academy Elite Dance Group, Chitraleka Dance Company and more! Venue Birmingham city-centre, Victoria Square Further information birminghamweekender.com @BhamWeekender # birminghamweekender
Square Dance is presented by Birmingham Weekender in association with Moseley Folk.
0121 446 3260 | sampad.org.uk
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Music
“...one of the finest modern-day performers of Sufi songs”
Sunday 24 September, 7.30pm
Hans Raj Hans Live in Concert
Hans Raj Hans is a hugely popular Punjabi singer, considered a national treasure in India and loved by millions of fans globally. Renowned as one of the finest modernday performers of Sufi songs, he is an exceptionally versatile and soulful vocalist whose work also embraces popular Punjabi songs along with folk, devotional, Bollywood, gurbani, ghazals and classical. Join Hans Raj and his gifted line-up of musicians for a joyful, uplifting evening of live song and music that marks the finale of the Birmingham Weekender Festival. Venue Town Hall, Victoria Square, B3 3DQ Tickets £13 To book 0121 780 3333 thsh.co.uk @BhamWeekender # birminghamweekender birminghamweekender.com Presented by Town Hall Symphony Hall in association with Sampad.
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Dance Photo by Craig Oddy
Dance, Music, Spoken Word, Theatre
Monday 23 October, 7.30pm
Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company: Inter_rupted In recent years Aditi Mangaldas’ creations have won her international attention as a leading contemporary Kathak creator in India.
With a cast of eight dancers and three musicians, Inter_rupted is a high-octane work based on themes of disintegration, fragility, vulnerability, age and transience. It also follows the trajectory of modern Kathak, for which Aditi Mangaldas is becoming best known. Venue Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, B5 4TB Tickets £15 (£10-£12 concessions)
Friday 27 October, 2pm & 8pm
Kahaani (Story)
Kahaani reflects personal stories around mental health, capturing fragments of memories, sadness, humour, friendship and love through poetry, music, dance and dialogue. Referencing Navarasa, the nine states of emotional empowerment from Indian aesthetics, the performance will entertain and engage, while supporting audience members to interact and experience a sense of well-being. Creative Team: Daz Dolczech, Jaya Khazaei, Manuela Benini, Mohinder Singh (Mendi) Co-Directors: Piali Ray and Paven Virk Poetry: Jasvir Kang Venue Foyle Studio, mac Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH
To book
Tickets
0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome.com
£5 (£3 concessions)
Calls cost 4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.
To book 0121 446 3232 macbirmingham.co.uk
“ Kathak collides with 21st century sounds in this revolutionary performance” Time Out London
Commissioned by Bedlam Arts & Mental Health Festival. For details of other performances in community and mental health settings, visit sampad.org.uk
0121 446 3260 | sampad.org.uk
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Dance
Saturday 28 October, 5pm
Monday 11 December, 4pm
Photo by Simon Richardson
Dance
From Man to Monk Part 1: Man
Work in progress. Includes a post-show discussion. Mavin Khoo (international solo Bharatanatyam artist, Rehearsal Director to Akram Khan Company) invites UKbased Spanish choreographer Carlos Pons Guerra (DanceXchange Associate Artist) and dancer Victor Callens to collaborate on a duet that explores their relationship through notions of love, desire, memory, rejection, lust, violence and beauty. Age Restriction: 12+ Duration: 60mins including discussion Venue Foyle Studio, mac Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH Tickets £5 To book 0121 446 3232 macbirmingham.co.uk Commissioned by Sadler’s Wells and Spin Arts. Funded by Arts Council England and supported by DanceXchange, KalaSangam, Sampad and mac Birmingham.
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About the Elephant Preview
Kathak artist Vidya Patel and Contemporary dancer Connor Scott met at the BBC Young Dancer competition in 2015. Their exceptional talents saw Connor win the competition, with Birminghambased Vidya triumphing in the South Asian grand finals. The rising stars have joined forces for a new performance that explores the outlook of two young people discovering the world and unveiling its mysteries, while finding clarity for themselves. The duo are accompanied by original music from Shammi Pithia. Venue Foyle Studio, mac Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH Tickets £5 To book 0121 446 3232 macbirmingham.co.uk
Co-commissioned by Serendipity Arts, Sampad Arts and mac Birmingham.
Image: Creative Commons via pimu (Dr GN Kazi, Flickr) licensed under CC by 2.0
Photo by Simon Richardson
Exhibition
Free Exhibition 16 November 2017 – 29 April 2018
The People of Partition in Birmingham Sampad’s free new exhibition, exploring how different generations living in Birmingham understand the 1947 Partition of India today, has been curated by artist Tasawar Bashir in collaboration with 20 volunteers from the West Midlands who have helped to co-curate and design the display.
Championing local stories and insights the exhibition reveals how people cope under collective displacement, turmoil and changing identities. The artistic response features new work created by the team, including a sculptural sound installation by Tasawar Bashir.
Venue Soho House, Soho Avenue (off Soho Road), B18 5LB Further information Soho House is open 11am-4pm, Wednesday to Thursday and the first Sunday of the month. See birminghammuseums.org.uk for full details. Produced by Sampad in partnership with Birmingham Museums Trust. Supported by the National Lottery through Heritage Lottery Fund and by The Radcliffe Trust, Grimmitt Trust and Limoges Trust.
0121 446 3260 | sampad.org.uk
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Diary of Events SEPTEMBER Sat 23
Rangeeli Colours of Birmingham Parade at Birmingham Weekender High Street, Birmingham city-centre
11am
FREE
Sat 23
South Asian Medley at Birmingham Weekender Victoria Square, Birmingham
12pm
FREE
Sun 24
Hans Raj Hans at Birmingham Weekender Town Hall, Birmingham
7.30pm
£13
Mon 23
Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company: Inter_rupted Birmingham Hippodrome
7.30pm
£15 (£10-£12)
Fri 27
Kahaani (Story) at Bedlam Arts & Mental Health Festival Foyle Studio, mac Birmingham
2pm & 8pm
£5 (£3)
Sat 28
From Man to Monk Part 1: Man Foyle Studio, mac Birmingham
5pm
£5
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER Thu 16
The People of Partition in Birmingham Until April 2018. Soho House, Soho Avenue See birminghammuseums.co.uk for opening times
FREE
DECEMBER Mon 11
About the Elephant Foyle Studio, mac Birmingham
4pm
£5
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 or announced via social media.
Making South Asian arts exciting and relevant to modern Britain
Sampad is a dynamic development agency based in Birmingham that connects people and communities with South Asian arts and heritage. We have a strong track record of delivering high-quality dance, music and theatre productions, events and workshops in education, community and outreach settings and professional development for artists, cultural leaders and young people. To find out more, please get in touch or join our mailing list via our website.
c/o mac birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston B12 9QH Telephone +44 (0)121 446 3260 Email info@sampad.org.uk Website sampad.org.uk
Funders, supporters and partners:
Sampad is a registered charity no. 1088995. Company no: 4146042.
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