|
British Council, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), will present contemporary UK dance production ‘Kathakbox’, performed by Sonia Sabri Company in Abu Dhabi next month.
Kathakbox is an uplifting production from the talented Sonia Sabri Company which expresses the diverse energy of modern Britain. Kathakbox encourages audiences to ‘think outside the box’ by bringing together a unique palette of art forms, blending grace and vigour.
Sonia Sabri Company, a dynamic UK dance company, looks set to inspire UAE audiences with its brand new dance style: Urban Kathak – a coming together of poetry, movement and hip hop to be showcased in Abu Dhabi Theatre on February 26 and in Dubai at DUCTAC on February 28.
The performance will be preceded by a week long residency in universities and schools. The residency, supported by British Council and ADACH, will take the form of interactive workshops and encourage students to explore the power of art. Various themes of Kathakbox and the concept of using art forms as creative languages of self-expression, through movement, poetry, music, rhythms and speech will all be used to teach and inspire students.
“Our aim is to engage local audiences, students and artists by initiating a series of workshops and conversations around Kathakbox by exploring the richness of poetry and movement. Kathak is an art form which encompasses movement, gesture, expression, music, the spoken word, drama as well as dance and it encourages us to think outside the box,” said Michel Bechara, Director of Projects, British Council, UAE.
“From its connections with youth culture through to beatbox and hip hop, to workshops on movement and self-expression, to social media projects linking UK and UAE students, this British Council initiative in conjunction with our partners will inspire and educate UAE audiences,” added Bechara.
Kathakbox makes music with no instruments, using only the power of the human body and voice by drawing on urban trends and global traditions. Dancers create music and musicians create movement while each tells their own individual story through spoken and unspoken languages: rhythm, movement, poetry and rap in English, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
“We are very happy to be partnering with the British Council on this fantastic cultural initiative. Such events reach out to the community and the workshops and educational activities off the back of such performances will no doubt widen the impact of the programme to all those that desire to be creatively inspired,” said Abdullah Ameri, Director of Arts & Culture, ADACH.
ADACH, established in 2005 by the Abu Dhabi Government and chaired by H.E. Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, is a visionary organization committed to the development of Abu Dhabi’s culture and heritage goals.
“Such projects are in line with ADACH’s vision of culture and to the development of Emirati and international arts, music, literature and cinema and reflect our vision to create programmes that are rich in symbolism and importance to the people of the UAE, which is why we’re happy to include the Sonia Sabri Company in our 2011 World Stage programme.” added Ameri.
Sonia Sabri is well known as one of the brightest and most inspirational British-born dancers/choreographers working today. Her work spans from classical North Indian Kathak to explorations of contemporary approaches, while her productions reflect her appreciation of Indian and British cultures. Through her work she has created a fresh, individual style of Kathak by pushing boundaries and creating work that is original in concept, exciting and relevant to audiences today.
Kathakbox is Sonia Sabri Company’s latest production and is a co-production with mac, supported by Arts Council, England UK and has also been commissioned by The Place and Birmingham City Council.
The international premiere in UAE is presented in Abu Dhabi by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage and The British Council and in Dubai by British Council and Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre.
“It is tremendously exciting for us to be given the opportunity to perform to audiences in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We are committed to sowing the seeds of creativity in the next generation and we hope to inspire people through such innovative collaborations that showcase dance styles and art forms while preserving Kathak’s essential purity and integrity,” said Sonia Sabri.
The British Council continues to create and develop innovative, high-quality events and collaborations that link thousands of artists and cultural institutions around the world, drawing them into a closer relationship with the UK. With the help of the global team British Council works with its Middle East and UK partners and dancers and musicians to draw on the innovation and creativity of the UK’s contemporary dance scene to open up the arts to more young people.
|
New
Review
Abu Dhabi International Airport - 41°F
