About the project

A dance and film project inspired by the Agra Colonnade, one of the largest architectural fragments to be displayed at the V&A East Storehouse.

school children during a dance workshop
Photo: Reece Straw

The participants from local community will join a series of dynamic dance workshops with Kathak specialist and choreographer Shyam Dattani, the winner of BBC Young Dancer 2017, South Asian dance category. The workshops will explore and interpret the rich history of the Agra Colonnade, one of the largest architectural fragments to be displayed at V&A East Storehouse. The workshops will take place in February-March 2025. The resulting dance explorations will culminate in a short documentary-style film which will be a part of the Agra Colonnade curatorial displays at V&A East Storehouse, opening May 2025.

Dating back to the Mughal era in India c.1637, the colonnade represents a period in India’s rich history when the Indian classical dance form of Kathak also reached new heights. This project provides opportunities to 18-24 year olds to develop their dance skills through masterclasses and share their own dance styles in this collaborative, co-produced interpretive film for V&A East.

What the community participants will gain

  • Learn from the best: Work with Akademi, a UK-based South Asian dance organisation with 46 years of experience, and Shyam Dattani, an accomplished Kathak artist, who will skilfully blend ideas, movement, and film to create an enriching experience for young dancers. 
  • Collaborate through dance: Develop both creative and technical dance skills through an immersive choreographic process while also getting to meet, interact and work with other young dancers. 
  • Be part of a film: Be part of a documentary film that will capture their creative explorations and unique voice. The film will be screened during the V&A Storehouse opening and will become a key feature in a semi-permanent interpretive display alongside the Agra Colonnade. 
  • Try out new styles: Whether a beginner or an experienced dancer, they’ll have the chance to explore the grace and beauty of a South Asian dance form like Kathak while also infusing the work with their own dance and movement styles. 
  • Work with V&A East curators: Interact with V&A East curators, gaining rare behind-the-scenes access to the museum world. This will be a unique chance to deepen their understanding of how art, dance, and culture are exhibited. 
  • A one-of-a-kind opportunity: Perform alongside one of the largest architectural fragments in the V&A collection — the Agra Colonnade. They will be among the privileged few to access and experience this remarkable space — even before the Storehouse officially opens! 

Participant profile

  • Young people aged 18-24 years old 
  • Individuals with an interest in South Asian culture, and/or with lived experience of South Asian heritage 
  • Individuals with an early career dance/performance practice experience (ideally but not restricted to South Asian dance). They must be willing to try new ways of movement 
  • Live, work or study in Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, or Hackney 

Key workshop dates

  • 9 February 2025 (information session) 
  • 15 and 16 February 2025 
  • 22 and 23 February 2025 
  • 1 and 2 March 2025 (filming) 

Enquire

If you’d like to know more about the project, please contact our Programmes Producer, Kavya Iyer on
kavya@akademi.co.uk

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