News about dance and dancers
25th January 2016
Nupur Arts Dance Academy
4th August 2015
Nupur Arts Dance Academy has just received £30,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project commemorating their 25 years in promoting and developing South Asian Dance in Leicester and Leicestershire.
Driven by Nupur Art’s Youth Association, this project will focus on the impact that the organisation has made locally to participants, audiences and the wider public through the creation of an exciting documentary and web resource. The grant will enable a group of 15 young volunteers to develop transferable heritage and media skills and also play a key role in increasing the awareness and understanding of the development of South Asian dance across the Leicester community. There is a significant knowledge-gap in the records of numerous heritage organisations in the Leicestershire area on the progress of South Asian dance over the 25 years that Nupur Arts has developed, but there is certainly a growing interest in the art form with huge festivals and audiences being attracted to sell-out shows. This project will address this need of promoting the growth of South Asian dance and also empower the young people of Leicester to engage with arts, media and heritage in their local area.
From its humble beginnings, Nupur Arts Dance Academy has become the largest dance organisation in Leicestershire with over 300 students learning a range of Indian classical and contemporary dance styles every week.
As well as innovative productions, vibrant community performances and engaging workshops in the community, in 25 years Nupur Arts has built a core team of young dancers that teach and choreograph in classes and projects. With this focus on young people and by working with heritage professionals from East Midlands Oral History Archive, this project will not only map the journey that the organisation has made but also how it has influenced the cultural landscape of the region. It is a highly relevant history and important to our past and present participants in a city where people of South Asian origin make up at least 31% of the population.
Commenting on the award, Smita Vadnerkar, Artistic Director of Nupur Arts Dance Academy said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and are confident the project will support young people to be active citizens with pride in the cultural heritage of Leicester.”
Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, said: “Nupur have educated and entertained Leicester for the past 25 years, helping to expand the city’s understanding of South Asian dance. Thanks to National Lottery players, our investment will create a fantastic opportunity for young people to explore the company’s story whilst learning a set of valuable new skills.”
Source: Nupur Arts
Midlands best dance crew
Midlands Best Dance Crew Returns for 5th Year
Now in its 5th year, Midlands Best Dance Crew 2015 comes to Curve Theatre, Leicester, on Sunday 8 November. It will see the crews with the fiercest moves dance it out, for a panel of industry insiders, to win this year’s trophy and a £1000 prize. An evening of stunning routines, using hip-hop, street and break dance, the annual competition is repeatedly sold out and showcases a wealth of urban dance talent.
The event will also feature a ‘Best Dancer in the Audience Section, with a £50 prize.
Previous winners of the competition have included Addict, who have gone on to perform as part of high profile dance shows such as Street Dance (Channel 4), Britain’s Got Talent (ITV) and Got to Dance (Sky1).
Vijay Mistry, Director of 2Funky Arts said: “We’re thrilled that Midlands Best Dance Crew is returning for its 5th year. We’re looking forward to seeing the best, emerging urban dance talent that the region has to offer.”
Midlands Best Dance Crew 2015
Sunday 8 November (doors 6.30pm, show time 7pm)
Curve Theatre, Rutland St, Leicester, LE1 1SB
Tickets: £10-16
www.curveonline.co.uk
E: info@2funkyarts.co.uk T: 0116 242 3595
6th March 2015
Project E
The new dance company in Basin Echo, which focuses on stimulating the audience imagination and interaction with the arts.
Our current project E/ aims to encourage the skills of creativity and critical thinking in 21st Century schools. We are producing a dance film through the use of mainstream academically approved subjects (Mathematics, Science etc), which gives everyone a basic common ground to relate to. There will be no indicated theme or meaning to the film, it will present a form of art which the spectator can nurture in their own minds.
We are creating E/ to support movements such as Art and Culture Matter and the importance of Arts in Education. Having previously dance for Leicester Youth Ballet (Arts in Education) for 10 years, I understand the importance of keeping the arts in education.
We are in pre production of the project, which is scheduled to be completed in August 2015.
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