Equator Festival are proud to present a hands-on session learning and playing southern African drum patterns and rhythms combined with singing some simple African songs.
Where is the workshop taking place?
The workshop is happening at The Horsebridge Centre in Whitstable, follow the signs when you arrive.
How do I get to The Horsebridge Centre?
The Horsebridge Arts and Community Centre is located in the heart of Whitstable, the full address is 11 Horsebridge Road, Whitstable, Kent. CT5 1AF. It approximately 200 yards from the town centre and 1 mile from Whitstable train station. The closest car park is on Victoria Street.
What time is the workshop?
The workshop starts at 2pm and will last about 90 minutes.
Does it cost anything to attend the event or workshop?
No, just yourself and you can wear anything you want, but you may want a bottle of water as it will an active workshop.
Can I take photos of the workshop and performance?
Absolutely, and feel free to post them on twitter (@EquatorFestival) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/equatorfestival).
Can I join in if I’m late to the workshop?
Yes, the more the merrier.
Are there any age restrictions?
The event is open to all, but we ask that children under 11 are accompanied by an adult.
Who is leading the workshop?
The workshop is being lead by one of the members of U’Zambezi group.
U’zambezi are a performing arts ensemble based in the United Kingdom who specialize in music and dance from Southern Africa. The group includes composers, dance and music educators. Their uninhibited staccato rhythms blend seamlessly with rich acappella harmonies.
This form of acappella song is known as ‘imbube’ and is sung mostly in Zulu. With its origins in the 1920s, when choirs such as ‘Crocodile’ and ‘Durban Evening Birds’ were founded in South Africa, modern day imbube lyrics explore key social issues such as war, suffering, love, religion and famine.
U’zambezi animate their songs with traditional dancing, ululation and African drumming. The group has played for dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II.
Equator WOW presents Kali featuring classical and contemporary Indian dance with virtuoso dancers Arunima Kumar and Ash Mukherjee. The show is themed around the power of women and Indian Goddesses in Indian mythology especially the Goddess Kali. Before the main performance there will be a 30 minute Indian dance workshop.
Sunley Gallery
Where is the workshop and performance taking place?
On March 9th Equator is proud to present a show themed around the power of women and Indian Goddesses in Indian mythology especially the Goddess Kali. The Dances of Kali will be performed at this free event by two incredible dancers Arunima Kumar and Ash Mukherjee. We’ve already met Arunima Kumar, now lets meet Ash Mukherjee.
The event is free to attend and you can find out more details here
A Time Out London’s Rising Talent and Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards UK nominee, Ash has been hailed as the Best Indian dancer in Great Britain today by Dance Europe.
In a recent survey conducted by Wiki Answers on the top twenty best male dancers in the world, Ash is the only representative of temple dance and appears along side his childhood idols, Rudolph Nureyev and Fred Astaire. Tipped as one of the most unique and cutting edge choreographers emerging from the UK dance scene today, Ash was hand picked by the production team behind This Is It! to create a short temple dance solo.
A versatile dance maker with an intuitive grasp on popular culture, Ash brings a fresh new take on artistic collaboration, most notably in his recent work with the acclaimed director Kevin Godley, in creating the striking imagery behind the music video of the Katie Melua/William Orbit hit single, The Flood and his choreographic piece for the one of the hottest international dance shows on television So You Think You Can Dance 2 UK on BBC1 television.
Born and brought up in Calcutta, India, Ash trained in the Indian classical dance style Bharata Natyam, the national dance of India in the Tanjore school, a style known for its grandeur and musicality under Guru Smt.Thankamani Kutti. He also trained extensively in the Bharatiya Natyashastra as recompiled by Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, and its 108 karanas or dance units, the treatise on the origin of all other South Asian dance forms such as Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi and Odissi etc. The youngest principal dancer of Kalamandalam Kolakata, at age thirteen, Ash received The Best Male Dancer Award by Layavinyas, India and had the opportunity to dance for Mother Teresa while still in his early teens. In 1998, Ash came to England to train in classical ballet under ex prima ballerinas of The Royal Ballet, Brenda Last and the Lady Londonderry – Ms Doreen Wells, and in Jazz Theatre Dance by Dollie Henry. Ash was offered to work in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End hit Bombay Dreams while still in his second year.
In 2007 Ash became the first Indian National to have been nominated for a Critics’ Circle National Dance Award UK for his critically acclaimed contribution to the 2006 Place Prize winning piece. In the same year he directed jazz and cabaret artist Holly Penfield in her one woman show entiltled Both Sides Now which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Soho Theatre and won the ” The Best Singer at the Fringe Award”. In 2008 he was featured in Time Out London’s Rising Talent Issue and Dance Europe as one of Europe’s three emerging dancers and dance makers. Hecreated an exciting new debut solo at Sadler’s Wells Theatre for the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards Ceremony in 2009 .Ash then went on to make his choreographic dance theatre debut to excellent reviews with his piece entitled “The Meeting Place” at The Place Theatre for Resolution! 2009. He has also been the Critics’ Choice Dance Europe for Outstanding Male Dancer and Best Contemporary Dance Premiere for his piece, The Meeting Place.
For Resolution! 2010 Ash presented his piece on the closing night of the festival, then in its 21st year, to excellent reviews with “Affluenza”, a piece where temple and street dance collided in a tale of greed, addiction and the recent global stock market crash.
Ash has recently been commissioned by Akademi UK to create a site specific work at Southwark Playhouse Vaults entitled Song Of The City. The piece is inspired by the poems and doodles of Guru Rabindranath Tagore, India’s national poet. He has also been shortlisted for a Matthew Bourne New Adventures Choreographer Award
27Feb 2017
NewsComments Off on Dances of Kali: Meet the dancers part 1 – Arunima KumarAlex Spargo
On March 9th Equator is proud to present a show themed around the power of women and Indian Goddesses in Indian mythology especially the Goddess Kali. The Dances of Kali will be performed at this free event by two incredible dancers Arunima Kumar and Ash Mukherjee. First, lets meet Arunima Kumar.
The event is free to attend and you can find out more details here
Arunima Kumar is one of the leading and versatile Kuchipudi dancers of her generation today. Born in India , she began her dance training at the age of seven and studied with eminent dancers and teachers(gurus) Padmashree Guru JayaRama Rao and Vanashree Rao . She had her initial training under Padmabhushan Smt Swapnasundari. She is currently mentored by Shobhana Jeyasingh, Chitra Sundaram and Pushkala Gopal.
Arunima is the recipient of several awards including the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskaar for 2008 , awarded by the President of India ,to artists who have demonstrated exceptional talent in the fields of music, dance and drama. She is also selected for One Dance Uks mentoring program for 2015 and is one of the 20 artists receiving this recognition and honor. She has received the Delhi State Sahitya Kala Parishad Scholarship for Dance, Shringarmani title, ’A grade artiste’ of National television , ‘established artist ‘ empaneled by ICCR and EXTEND scholarship sponsored by Arts Council England, Asian Woman of Achievement Award UK in arts category, Tagore commission (Runners Up) awarded by Pulse and Tagore Center London 2014, UTKARSH Award Commission 2014 – for choreography in classical dance by Akademi and Arts Council England. She received the FICCI FLO award in April 2015 for her contribution to art and culture and is also nominated for the Mayors award UK..
Arunima has performed the world over at prestigious festivals and venues covering over 35 countries and has given over 700 performances and workshops.
She has choreographed and performed for all major UK events and venues including PM Modi visit at Wembley stadium where she presented her choreography before 70,000 people and world media, British Royal Armed forces performance , Alchemy festival 2015, Trafalgar Square Mayor of London Diwali 2014, New Scotland Yard , London , Royal Opera House London, Westminster Houses of Parliament, Olympic torch parade 2012, Daredevas at South Bank Center , London Film Festival, United Nations International Yoga day at Southbank centre for Ministry of India ,Big Dance , Intransit festival , Sampad Festival Birmingham, Kala Sangam Bradford , Kadam festival Hat Factory, Roshni charity, Sir Syed Foundation UK, Dublin Film Festival, Waterman’s Theatre, Rich Mix theatre London, Milapfest at Liverpool, Faversham Guinness world record attempt, Charity performance for British Army. She was recently invited to create a special piece at House of Lords and was commissioned by Department of Culture Media and Sport to create and perform at the WW1 centenary celebrations at the Imperial War Museum Manchester.
She has also performed at mainstream international dance venues like Sydney Opera House, Cupertino USA Guinness world record , Khajuraho Dance Festival india, Rio de Janeiro festival of arts , Brazil Canberra Festival, Thailand cultural festival , Manila Festival , Commonwealth games Delhi etc.
Having a multi faceted experience across academics (London School of Economics Msc in Finance alumnus, ST Stephens college BA HONS ECONOMICS) , dance (ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AKDC ), corporate work (HR Director Europe for a leading corporate, Banking and consulting), sports (Gold medalist Pistol Shooting) and community work (founder ARTH Foundation and PROJECT KANYA ) , she is inspirational , dedicated and selfless , a rare breed of artists who integrate diverse strengths, sensitivity and creativity to add a fresh relevant dimension to South Asian dance .
Arunima is the founder of 2 charities PROJECT KANYA (for development of women) and ARTH FOUNDATION – supporting arts with a purpose. She works with women in prison and old age homes and has rehabilitated several inmates and created sensitive thought provoking productions in dance on women issues.
Arunima has created unique Health specific work out programs leveraging dance like TAKITA , high intensity dance workout and SAMuM, a dance session for pregnant women with several health benefits..
Arunima’s performances reveal a confident and intellectual dancer with individuality. She is an innovator and has collaborated with many international artistes to push the boundaries of South Asian dance.Enthralling Abhinaya (art of expression), confident communication with her audiences and contemporary interpretations of traditional compositions mark her successful performances. Her energetic dance-renditions combine perfect technique, rhythmicprecision, riveting facial expressions and enormous grace.
Equator’s Women of the World 2016 returns for its 5th year with an eclectic, international and unique series of performances lead by female composers and musicians.
The series happens over 2 nights in autumn, at Kings Place, with the first on October 1st. The first weekend of music is a journey from Charlotte Bronté to award-winning flamenco with specially commissioned pieces by 7 women composers
Equator Festival launched the Women of the World series in 2012, with the simple aim of promoting female performers from all music genres, from all over the world. Each year Equator showcases the best in female performers, musicians and songwriters.
The performances on Saturday October 1st are:
Jane Eyre Re-imagined (2pm)
To celebrate the bicentenary of Charlotte Brontë’s birth, Shion Duo are joined by actress Rebecca Kenny for this special concert. Shion Duo have re-imagined Jane Eyre through music and words written by and for women from around the world. The programme will include new commissions by students of the Royal Northern College of Music – Melissa Douglas and Charlotte Marlow, as well as music by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, Marina Dranishnikova and Clara Schumann.
Invicta Upper Voices (4pm)
Performing for the first time the Invicta Upper Voices choir will sing works by female choral composers from the 20th century, with complimentary pieces from their male counterparts. Invicta Upper Voices will be joined by Invicta Voices in an exciting and colourful programme with works from Ivette Harryman, Charlotte Bray and Alice Parker alongside the world premieres of five specially-commissioned pieces by women composers: Marguerite Abbott, Barbara De Biasi, Litha Efthymiou, Kirsten Parry and Rhiannon Randle. The concert will also feature works from Eric Whitacre, Paul Patterson, Priti Paintal and Ola Gjeilo. invictalondon.co.uk | invictavoices.co.uk | equatorfestival.com
Roots Revolution (6pm)
Deepa Nair Rasiya takes her audience on a voyage exploring poetry and music within the realm of the mystic traditions of the subcontinent. Seeking to unravel, through music, the profound meaning in the poetic lyrics of the Saints and Philosophers over the centuries, this journey embraces a comprehensive spectrum of musical styles – from traditional hindustani classical vocal music to semi classical, folk and cross-genre fusion, to best communicate the emotion and the messages presented; Deepa’s vocals are complemented by instrumental accompaniment from some of the UK’s finest musicians, all from a diverse range of musical and cultural backgrounds.The project endeavours to provide glimpses into the Sufi and Bhakti movements and also to explore some of the lighter styles of North Indian music, mainly Thumri, Bhajan and Folk, employing instrumental arrangement styles to make it contemporary, current and accessible musically. Spiritual love and the search for meaning in human existence remain the enduring themes throughout.
Juan Martin and Amparo Heredia (8pm)
Juan Martín and Amparo Heredia ‘La Repompilla’ started their collaboration with a concert in the Spanish city of Ronda six years ago and followed up to great acclaim with a recital in flamenco’s epicentre, Morón de la Frontera, Seville, in the Teatro Oriente. They have since toured in the UK, Belgium and Canada in Juan Martín’s dance company.Last year Amparo Heredia won two first prizes in the prestigous Festival de la Minas de la Union and now this pure gypsy singer from Málaga is, with Juan Martín’s guitar, making the world sit up and take note of her explosive yet soulful expression.
Performances on Oct 22nd include: Award winning folk group Furrow Collective with support group from Holloway Girls School, classical pianist Ke-Ma, and classical/jazz ensemble Ethereal World
Tickets for each performance are available online from https://goo.gl/wW1A6Z
This May and June Equator Festival are proud to present Far Eastern Feast.
These events are taking place exclusively in Kent at the Centrepiece Church (May 21), The Stag (June 11) and the Horsebridge Centre (June 18). The feast is made up of a variety of workshops and an amazing performance by the Sinman Dance Company.
We spoke to Sinman Dance Company and they told us what to expect from the Feasts!
Tell us about your performance?
This will be a display of traditional Chinese music and dance. We will introduce you different tribes from China through our music and dance.
Describe your performance in 3 words
Colorful; Joyful; enjoyable
How long have you been dancing? How do you feel when you dance?
I have been dancing since I was little. And I have been professional artist for over 25 years. Dance always gives me full enjoyment while I am doing it, and the satisfaction afterward.
Your running a variety of workshops including calligraphy, dance and opera mask painting, can anyone take part?
Absolutely, the workshops are open to everyone.
How difficult is calligraphy difficult to learn? Did it take you long to learn?
It’s not difficult to learn calligraphy, but it’s very hard to do it well. It’s combination of posture, balance and patient. I practiced my calligraphy throughout my primary and secondary education.
What can people expect from the face painting?
It’s Peking opera face painting. Each face represents different character in the play. The look of the face paint are very unfamiliar to most non Chinese audiences, may even find strange at first. We will try to explain and bring you into Chinese opera world.
Why do think it’s important to promote Chinese dance and culture in the UK?
Promoting Chinese culture in the UK will bring more appreciation and acceptance toward Chinese arts and people. Creating harmony among us.
You can purchase tickets for the event using the links below:
Once again Equator is searching for the best amateur, school and community choirs in the Kent and Medway area.
Competition requirements:
The choir must have a minimum of 12 singers.
Be available to perform at the Choir Festival on Thursday 30th June and Friday 8th July 2016 in Ashford, Kent.
Be able to submit 3 songs to be performed, including 1 from another country/culture.
Previous choirs include:
Tonbridge Grammar for Girls
Simon Langton Boys Grammar
Paddock Wood Primary School
Bridge and Patrixbourne Primary
Highworth Girls Grammar
Great Chart Primary
Tunstall Primary
Each year the WOW Series showcases the best in female performers, musicians and songwriters and this year we are looking for more women to join the event.
Are you a member of a female choir/performance group?
Or a mixed group with a strong repertoire of songs by female composers? If yes, then we want to hear from you?
Come and join an evening of ensembles and musicians from around the world showcasing music from pop, world, jazz and classical. This year the WOW Series will take place on Saturday 1st and 22nd October 2016, at Kings Place, London.
