MAITRI TOO (2024)

Following a pilot project in 2023, Maitri Too will provide South Asian dance workshops to pupils of Primary and Secondary schools in Brent including English as Additional Language (EAL) students.

Maitri too’s main aim is to provide enhanced cultural engagement for Brent pupils through South Asian dance workshops culminating in a bold, new and exciting co-created outdoor dance piece for family audiences.

The themes of Akademi’s celebrated show Pravaas will act as inspiration for the workshops. Pravaas is an innovative outdoor show exploring climate migration through South Asian dance. The stories behind Pravaas are emotionally engaging, illustrating the importance and power of community, togetherness and hope, while highlighting environmental issues that are relevant to all, but particularly the younger generation.

Supported by

Primary school students participating in a workshop — Students participating in Akademi’s school workshops. Photo: Niki Sianni

Dates

March – June 2024

Schools involved

St. Claudine’s School for Girls
St. Mary’s C of E School
Brentfield Primary

Artists

Manuela Benini
Jaina Modasia
Marcina Arnold

Additional Aims of the project

To nurture community cohesion in Brent and to increase the arts and culture offer to young people in the borough.
Build stronger school communities through giving equal priority to two primary schools and one secondary (St Claudine’s, year 1) encouraging all to come together as equals.
To enhance and create opportunities for cross curricular learning through the themes of climate migration and environment (an Akademi creative priority). The project will cultivate opportunities for different departments within all schools – including science, humanities and arts – to collaborate in a meaningful, cohesive way.
To promote inclusion; supporting and involving EAL learners who will benefit from being a part of a collaborative project.
To support younger pupils as they prepare to undergo the transition from primary to secondary school by providing a platform for primary and secondary pupils to learn and create together.
To provide opportunity for South Asian dance artists to develop their skills as community practitioners.
To create a project that can be replicated across new schools.

Enquire

To find out more about the project, please contact Kavya Iyer, our Programmes Coordinator at kavya@akademi.co.uk

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