One Dha at a Time
Nov
25
8:00 PM20:00

One Dha at a Time

In the radiant month of Diwali, a celebration of Light over Darkness and the pursuit of Knowledge over Ignorance, four classically trained dancers embark on a journey to seek the essence of their dance.

‘One Dha at a Time,’ is an experimental dance show where the dancers challenge the conventional norms and inherited practices of Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Manipuri, and Odissi. Through their dance, they share personal discoveries, questions, and challenges they face as contemporary practitioners of traditional dance styles.

Four performance pieces by four dancers :

Prarambh – Jyoti Manral
We begin with flowers – Maryam Shakiba
Dvidehi – Debanjali Biswas
(Don’t) Tell Me What Bharatanatyam Is – Kavya Iyer

SAA-uk cordially invites you to join us at Seven Arts for a show that promises to bring you closer to the contemporary expressions of Indian dance forms, one dha at a time.

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Mapping the Body
Aug
3
8:00 PM20:00

Mapping the Body

Maryam Shakiba will be performing Rupam Baoni’s “Vitruvian Woman” at this event at the National Poetry Library.

In performances interspersed with dance interludes by Maryam Shakiba, the pair of British Indian poets explore themes of love and loss coexisting between the human body and the earth.

Rupam Baoni and Supriya Kaur Dhaliwal create poems and artworks pulsing with their rural Himalayan upbringing and symbiotic connection with the earth.

They examine themes of nature, relationships and what it means to break notions of origin.

Baoni’s chronicles of entering my body makes inquiries into love, grief and the vulnerability of flesh, juxtaposing the human body with the natural world.

Dhaliwal’s The Yak Dilemma questions the notion of place and its effect on our bodies, spirit and memory.

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World Yoga Festival
Jul
31
6:00 PM18:00

World Yoga Festival

Maryam will be performing odissi at World Yoga Festival, Henley on Thames, as part of the closing event celebrations.

Founded in 2016, World Yoga Festival is hosted by The Arsha Kula Foundation (UK Registered Charity No. 1171708) and brings together the most revered collection of teachers every year. Hosted within the stunning grounds of Henley Showground, Marlow Road, Henley-on-Thames, it will be an outstanding opportunity to learn from true masters in the authentic traditions. Somewhere between retreat and festival, you will find ample time to relax and enjoy the entertainment as well as discover a deep and profound learning of yoga as a way of life.

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Songs of the Heart
Nov
12
7:00 PM19:00

Songs of the Heart

Maryam will be performing at a special evening of dance, film and music.

She will be presenting a new piece of solo work, alongside a piece of traditional odissi repertoire.

Balladeste will also be performing work from from their new album, Beyond Breath.

Event produced by Kadam Dance and Music.

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Srishti: Utsaha
Jul
4
2:30 PM14:30

Srishti: Utsaha

Maryam will be performing at odissi solo at Utsaha; an event celebrating Srishti’s 30th anniversary. Organised by Nina Rajarani MBE.

“Srishti’s 30th anniversary this year is being celebrated with our first performance of 2021 in front of a live audience – Utsāha. Here we will be showcasing Srishti’s talented students alongside some of UK’s most recognised new generation of professional dancers.

Utsāha, meaning enthusiasm, captures the spirit of the show and our efforts behind it as we put on our bells, dance and sing in synchrony, engage with live music and feel the joy of sharing our space and stage.

After more than a year of online events, come and share our exuberance and immerse yourself in a cultural evening featuring a beautifully varied display of classical Indian dance and music performances.

We have an exciting line-up of students performing Bharatanatyam dance, Karnatik music and Kathak dance with several guest artists including Anaya Bolar (Bharatanatyam), Shyam Dattani (Kathak), Suhani Dhanki (Bharatanatyam), Maryam Shakiba (Odissi), Divya Ravi (Bharatanatyam), Saloni Saraf (Kathak) and Piya Varma (Mohiniattam).”

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Nov
15
4:00 PM16:00

Odissi Ensemble - Apotheosis

  • Hotung Gallery, British Museum (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Odissi Ensemble will be performing in the Hotung Gallery at the British Museum, as part of Akademi’s Apotheosis event.

Absorb the history of South Asia through sculpture and dance; one still and timeless, the other moving and ever evolving.

In this unique event in Akademi’s 40th anniversary programme, experience the artistry, fluidity and variance of Indian Classical dance styles performed with traditional live music against the backdrop of the exquisite sculptures in the British Museum’s Hotung Gallery.

https://akademi.co.uk/event/apotheosis

Dancers: Maryam Shakiba, Elena Catalano, Khavita Kaur

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Oct
5
to Oct 6

Devadasi Weekend, Glastonbury

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Partnering up with the amazing Demelza Fox, Maryam is really happy to be offering a weekend retreat in Glastonbury exploring sacred dance and the history of the temple dancer.

More details can be found here: http://www.priestesstraining.com/devidasi-weekend-5-6-october/

There will also be a performance on Saturday 5th October which will be open to the public.

Devotion through beauty is the way!

<3

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Jun
29
to Jun 30

Odissi Ensemble - Sacred Shapes at Imagine Watford

  • Watford Town Centre (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS
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Sacred Shapes is a twenty-five-minute piece for outdoor spaces, based on the concept of the Mandala, a symbolic representation of Divine and cosmic energies. Choreographer Katie Ryan says, ‘I see parallels between the way in which the geometry, colour and symbolism of Mandalas can evoke a certain energy within a space for someone in meditation, with the way in which a dance performance can do a similar thing within a performance space for the audience.’

The music has been composed by the acclaimed vocalist Ranjana Ghatak, who appeared last month at the Barbican as an opening act for legendary guitarist Jim McLaughlin and band.

Sacred Shapes is performed with members of Odissi Ensemble, who have been performing as UK’s first professional Odissi Company since 2015. Last year they toured Gods and Mortals nationally to great acclaim.

Sacred Shapes blends dance, soundscape, design and pattern to weave shapes and beat rhythms that tell their own story of creation and the journeying to find meaning and purpose.

Location

Site 2

Running time

25 minutes

Times

  • Sat 29 Jun - 12:35pm

  • Sat 29 Jun - 4:40pm

  • Sun 30 Jun - 12:30pm

  • Sun 30 Jun - 3:15pm

Dancers: Maryam Shakiba, Elena Catalano, Kali Chandrasegaram, Khavita Kaur

More information: http://www.imaginewatford.co.uk/events/sacred-shapes/

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Nov
7
5:00 PM17:00

Devonshire Square Diwali Mela

  • Devonshire Square London, England United Kingdom (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Dancers Elena Catalano, Maryam Shakiba, Pallavi Basak and Pracheeti Dange will be performing odissi at Devonshire Square Diwali Mela.

This is a free event, and will also feature folkloric Rajastani dance and complimentary snacks by Cinnamon Kitchen.

More information and Eventbrite booking:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/devonshire-squares-diwali-festival-tickets-51895304252#

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Oct
20
12:30 PM12:30

Odissi Ensemble - Sacred Fires at Manchester Dashehra Diwali Mela

Inspired by the simple geometry incorporated in an ancient mystical diagram, Sacred Fires is an exciting collaboration between Walk the Plank, an outdoor performance art and pyrotechnics company, and the Odissi Ensemble.

Performing as the finale spectacular at Manchester Diwali Mela, this is a show not to be missed.

Free to attend!

Performances at 3.30pm and 7.30pm.


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Aug
29
12:30 PM12:30

Odissi Ensemble - Sacred Shapes

  • Ananda Arts Odissi Festival, University of Bedford (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Featured as part of Ananda Arts Odissi Festival, Odissi Ensemble will be performing their production ‘Sacred Shapes’; originally commissioned for Imagine Luton festival, June 2018.

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A powerful, engaging and dramatic piece of dance and visual theatre. Sacred Shapes is inspired by the symbolism of the ancient diagram, the Sri Yantra, of inverted triangles in a circle, which express the place of humans in the cosmos.

A quartet of dancers energise the space as they map out lines, curves and angles, making connections between each other and the audience.

The piece blends movement, soundscape, design and pattern to weave shapes and beat out rhythm that will tell its own story of creation, of journeying to find meaning and purpose in life’s quest.

Bedfordshire Choreographer Katie Ryan is the recipient of the Marion North Mentoring Award. The Odissi Ensemble is the only professional Odissi Company in the UK.

Featuring dancers:

Elena Catalano
Maryam Shakiba
Kali Chandrasegaram
Khavita Kaur

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May
11
7:30 PM19:30

Collective X - Love & Protest

Maryam will be supporting Collective X, a supergroup of musicians, poets and producers, showcasing their debut album Love & Protest.

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“Conceived by vocalist and composer, Alya Al-Sultani in the aftermath of the 2016 EU referendum, Collective X explores race, identity and the black and minority ethnic experience. Subjects range from the fetishisation of the black body to the honour killing of Banaz Mahmod; from Tinder to sisterhood. Although themes of dispossession and oppression take centre stage, they approach these problems with sass, humour and wit and their irrepressible joy in music-making shines through.

Line-up: Alya Al-Sultani, Cleveland Watkiss, Neil Charles, Pat Thomas, Joshua Idehen, Clemens Christian Poetzsch, Dave Ital, Robert Menzel and Mark Sanders. Plus special guests Heidi Vogel, probably the greatest female jazz singer in this country, and classical Indian dancer Maryam Shakiba.”

For more info and tickets: h

ttps://stratford-circus.com/event/love-protest/#data-sc-tabs-alt-index%3D%220%22=overview

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Jul
13
12:30 PM12:30

Tales of Silk & Music

  • Devonshire Square London, England, EC2M United Kingdom (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Maryam Shakiba and Katrina Rute will be performing odissi dance duets for this festival in Devonshire Square, London. Presented by Akademi South Asian Dance.

A lunchtime performance, free to attend.

http://www.devonshiresq.co.uk/events/events/odissi-dance-duet-presented-by-akademi-south-asian-dance.aspx

 

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May
12
7:30 PM19:30

Odissi Ensemble, Gods & Mortals

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Odissi Ensemble touring production: Gods & Mortals

Four highly trained and charismatic dancers, UK’s only Odissi dance group, who have thrilled London audiences at the Southbank Centre, perform in Sunderland for one night only.

Live music accompaniment lends a special depth and spontaneity to the show. Vocals, tabla, violin and spoken rhythms accompany the dance.

Performing alongside dancers: Katie Ryan, Kali Chandrasegaram, Elena Catalano
Accompanied by musicians: Gurdain Ryatt, Ranjana Ghatak, May Robertson, Parvati Rajamani

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May
7
4:15 PM16:15

Odissi Ensemble, Gods & Mortals

Odissi Ensemble touring production: Gods & Mortals

Four highly trained and charismatic dancers, UK’s only Odissi dance group, who have thrilled London audiences at the Southbank Centre, perform in Luton for one night only.

Live music accompaniment lends a special depth and spontaneity to the show. Vocals, tabla, violin and spoken rhythms accompany the dance.

Performing alongside dancers: Katie Ryan, Kali Chandrasegaram, Elena Catalano
Accompanied by musicians: Gurdain Ryatt, Ranjana Ghatak, May Robertson, Parvati Rajamani

 

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Apr
16
12:30 PM12:30

Greenwich Tall Ships Festival

Maryam will be performing odissi at Greenwich Tall Ships Festival. Do come along for a fun family day out exploring culture and history!

Date: Sunday 16th April
Location: Cutty Gardens
Time: 1230-1300

More details about the event can be found here: http://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/tallships

Performance supported by Akademi and the Royal Borough of Greenwich

 

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Mar
22
2:30 PM14:30

The Indian Heroine in History, Art & Performance

  • Weston Library Lecture Theatre (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Elena Catalano and Maryam Shakiba will be presenting "The Ashta Nayikas Explored Through Odissi" at this symposium in Oxford.

The classification of heroines (nāyikās) and heroes (nāyakas) is a central aspect of Indian aesthetic philosophy, taking place in dramaturgical works and Sanskrit treatises such as the Nāṭyaśāstra, in medieval bhakti poetry and in later vernacular works.

This presentation explores the idea of the nāyikā through the lens of the performing arts tradition of South Asia, particularly in the context of Bhakti. Odissi, one of the main dance forms of India and attributed in the 20th century with classical status, refers heavily to a core text of the Bhakti period for its repertoire: the Gita Govinda, seminal work of the poet Jayadeva. 

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