Spring Season 2015

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

Feb - AprCelebrating 25 years, 1990-2015

Inspiredby Gandhi

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

@sampad_arts

/sampad.artsPiali Ray OBE, Director

We have a wealth of captivating music, dance, theatre and literature events to keep you entertained over the coming months.

In February, to mark the launch of Sampad’s new international writing competition Inspired by Gandhi (see page 7), we are offering a special creative writing workshop for budding writers that will give participants a chance to connect with the legacy of Gandhi, one of the most inspirational leaders in history.

In March we join forces with The Drum to present two compelling events to lift your spirits as Spring arrives. Reflection of Silence features enchanting music from four highly gifted musicians; check the Events section of Sampad’s website to get a flavour of them in action. Later that month, Rang Barse (A Rain of Colour) celebrates the vibrant festival of Holi by throwing a spotlight on some of the most talented singers and dancers in the region.

In April, Sampad and mac birmingham welcome back Kali Theatre, with their new production Twelve – a moving and powerful piece of theatre featuring a collection of beautifully written monologues that examine ‘honour-based’ violence.

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. You can also catch up with all the latest news on My Route, Sampad’s HLF-funded community heritage project along Birmingham’s Stratford Road at www.myroute.org.uk

Best wishes,

Welcome toour Spring 2015season programme

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Sunday 15 March, 4pm

Margam – an afternoon of KathakEnjoy an afternoon of beautiful Indian classical dance from three highly-talented Kathak performers.

Urja Desai Thakore, Artistic Director of Pagrav Dance Company has built a reputation for being an exceptionally graceful and emotive dancer and has performed and choreographed extensively in Asia, Europe and the UK.

Kesha Raithatha is an emerging young dancer who gave her first solo Kathak recitals in India in 2014. Birmingham-based Vidya Patel started learning Kathak from the age of ten with Sonia Sabri and is currently learning under the guidance of Sujata Banerjee, in London.

You can see full biographies at www.sampad.org.uk/events

Venue

mac birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH

Tickets

£10 (£8 concs)

Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 446 3232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk

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Saturday 14 February, 11am - 1pm

Creative Writing WorkshopFree event!To mark the launch of Sampad’s new international writing competition, Inspired by Gandhi, we are offering a free creative writing workshop aimed at new or emerging writers, aged 16 and over, wishing to develop their practice. Participants will have a chance to connect with the legacy of Gandhi - a towering figure in history, whose philosophy of non-violence and passion for equality continues to be an inspiration for many people.

The workshop will be led by Parm Kaur, an established poet, playwright and performer, whose work has been broadcast on BBC Radio and Television.

Venue

Marjorie Allen Room, All Saints Centre, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7RA

To confirm your place, email: anne@sampad.org.uk or telephone 0121 446 3260

You can find further details about the workshop and about the Inspired by Gandhi writing competition at www.sampad.org.uk

Literature

04 Information 0121 446 3260

Friday 20 March, 7pm

Reflection of Silence: Flavours of Iranian and Kurdish MusicReflection of Silence is a new collaboration between four musicians from different backgrounds, from Rock to Iranian music, who share a mutual passion for the art of creative improvisation in Iranian and Kurdish music.

The evening will open with the Art of Improvisation (Persian Music), followed by a contemporary approach to a set of ancient Kurdish pieces from different parts of the Kurdistan region. The performance aims to inspire both the artists and listeners to become ecstatically lost in the music.

This project was selected as one of the Top 10 Live UK events by Songlines magazine when it was performed at Kings Place for first time in March 2014.

Tara Jaff harp, vocal Pouya Mahmoudi guitar Mehdi Rostami setar, shourangiz Adib Rostami tombak, kamancheh

Venue

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

Tickets

£9 (£7 concs)

Ticket Office/Online Booking

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

Presented by Sampad in partnership with The Drum

Music

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Sunday 29 March, 4pm

Rang Barse (A Rain of Colour) Venue

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

Tickets

All tickets £7

Ticket Office/Online Booking

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

Presented by Sampad in partnership with The Drum

Song and dance feature in this celebration of the vibrant festival of Holi which marks the arrival of spring and welcomes the colour and vitality of the new season.

Come along and enjoy an afternoon of lively entertainment featuring some of the finest talent in the region, including popular, all-female, Punjabi folk dance group Giddha Sansaar, students from Bollywood Dreams Dance Academy and three of the finalists from last season’s SARGAM South Asian Singing Contest: Rajesh Padhiar, Hemant Patel and Raj Patel.

Song and Dance

06 Information 0121 446 3260

Thursday 16 & Friday 17 April, 8pm

TwelveTwelve moving, touching and sometimes humorous monologues tell stories of friendship, first love, defiance, death and survival.

Twelve writers have created a unique theatre event to give a voice to the true stories of young women killed by their families in the UK, where on average twelve such killings occur every year.

The stories are interwoven with modern dance, expressing the freedom of the women’s spirit and the conflict between cultural tradition and modernity. Venue

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

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

0121 446 3232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk

Presented by Kali Theatre in association with Sampad and mac birmingham

Sunday 26 April, 4pm

Asian SpringSampad’s annual showcase returns with a lively celebration of South Asian dance.

Bring your family and friends and experience the beautiful classical forms of Kathak and Bharatanatyam, colourful and energetic Giddha folk dance, thrilling contemporary Bollywood moves and more, from some of the most exciting dance groups in the country.

You can see further details about the performers at www.sampad.org.uk/eventsVenue

Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire, B3 3HG

Tickets

£9 (£7 concs)

Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 245 4455 www.birmingham-box.co.uk

The BOX will make the following charges to customers purchasing tickets: debit card 50p per transaction, credit card 3% per transaction. These fees are waived for online bookings. See their website for full terms & conditions.

Theatre

Dance

Centre for Advanced Dance Training (Bharatanatyam Strand) – Photo by Tim Cross

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Thursday 30 April, 7pm

Maati (Earth)Presented by Nahid SiddiquiAcclaimed Kathak dancer and choreographer Nahid Siddiqui presents ‘Maati’ (Earth), a new work in development, based on the writings of 17th century Eastern philosopher and poet Hazrat Bulleh Shah, whose poetry highlights his spiritual voyage through Sufism.

Siddiqui uses the subtle nuances of Kathak to encapsulate the essence of the ‘Sufi’ folk spirit of the Punjab. The work seeks to unveil the phenomenon of the earth and how all life relates to it, while also posing questions about the fundamental truths of existence.Venue

mac birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QHTickets

£7Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 446 3232 www.macbirmingham.co.uk

Until 31 May 2015

Inspired by Gandhi International Writing Competition

Mahatma Gandhi is a towering figure in history, whose philosophy of non-violence, passion for equality and socio-political intelligence continues to be an inspiration for many people.

Sampad’s latest international writing competition is offering an opportunity for budding writers to respond to and reflect on Gandhi’s life, philosophy and vision.

If you have a poem, short story or reportage inspired by Gandhi, let us know and your words could be selected for publication.

Any writer from anywhere in the world from the age of 8 upwards can take part.

All entries must be written in English.

Entries can be up to 400 words.

Only two entries are allowed per person.

Last date for entries: SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015

For the competition rules and to access the online entry form, please visit the Special Projects section of www.sampad.org.uk or email: info@sampad.org.uk

Dance Literature

Photo by Qasim Riza Shaheen

FEBRUARY14 Creative Writing Workshop All Saints Centre, Kings Heath 11am Free P3

MARCH15 Margam – an afternoon of Kathak mac birmingham 4pm £10 (£8) P3

20 Reflection of Silence – Kurdish & Iranian Music The Drum, Aston 7pm £9 (£7) P4

29 Rang Barse (A Rain of Colour) The Drum, Aston 4pm £7 P5

APRIL16-17 Twelve mac birmingham 8pm £14 (£12) P6

26 Asian Spring – dance extravaganza Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham 4pm £9 (£7) P6

30 Maati – presented by Nahid Siddiqui mac birmingham 7pm £7 P7

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

Diary of Events Get in touch

Post c/o mac birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston B12 9QHTelephone 0121 446 3260Email info@sampad.org.ukWebsite www.sampad.org.ukTwitter @sampad_artsFacebook /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.

International Writing CompetitionSampad’s International Writing Competition Inspired by Gandhi is now open for entries. The closing date is Sunday 31 May 2015. Enter now!See page 7 or visit www.sampad.org.uk (Special Projects) for further details.

Celebrating 25 years, 1990-2015