A unique performance/ installation of kanthas and kathak dance narrating local stories originated during Covid lockdown, taking over of a local community centre, reimagining perceptions and conventions of the performance stage.

During Covid lockdowns, AKDC continued to engage local people with creative activity by reaching out to them through WhatsApp and zoom media using Kantha to embroider their experiences and stories. In this final part of the project the kanthas are kinetically progressed to kathak (the south Asian dance) with a live music score of Borodin’s Nocturne especially adapted to Indian instrumentation by a creative team featuring internationally acclaimed artists

Kathak Movement Notation and Depiction by Amina Khayyam

Music composed and adaptation of Borodin's Nocturne by Jonathan Mayer

Performers: Jane Chan, Meera Patel & Amina Khayyam

Musicians: Debasish Mukherjee (tabla), Jonathan Mayer (sitar), Natalie Rozario (cello), William Rees Hoffman (sarod)

Kantha Artists : Bhajan Hunjan

Costume: Abeda Begum

Made at Brunel Arts with support from Arts Council of England, The National Lottery Community Fund, zeroculture/The Artta, Awaami Arts Associates, Collage Arts and Dallow Community Centre

www.aminakhayyamdance.co.uk/kantha-katha-k