Summer is here and we have some wonderful events coming up, as well as an update on this year’s touring and our new show in development. Read our latest news in our June 2024 newsletter.
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Award-winning Sanskruti Dance brings a dance festival for everyone to Cambridge this July, with dance workshops and performances drawing from a wide range of South Asian dance traditions. The festival will be held on Sunday 7th July at Cambridge Junction, with dance workshops at 10am, 11.30am and 12.30pm, followed by an evening performance starting at 6pm.
The morning dance workshops are a great opportunity for people to unleash their creativity through rhythm and movement, exploring Bollywood and Manipuri dance styles. Run by the UK’s leading South Asian dance artists, these sessions are suitable for different ages and abilities, so the whole family can take part.
In the evening, the whole family can enjoy stunning performances from some of the best South Asian dancers, as well as local performers from Sanskruti Cambridge dance school. The showcase will include:
Krishna Zivraj-Nail, Sanskruti Dance’s Artistic Director, said, “Cambridge does not have a festival focussed on dance that brings families together allowing them to explore their own creativity with rhythms and movement. At Sanskruti, we believe that dance is for everyone, and can be made accessible, and are always looking for ways to reach out to new people,
including the elderly along with children and their families. We hope this one-day dance festival will be an opportunity for everyone to experience the benefits of dance and introduce more people to Indian dance and culture.”
To book your tickets, visit: www.junction.co.uk/events/cambridge-dance-festival/
We are so pleased to have been chosen as one the organisations supported by Sawston Fun Run this year. Sawston Fun Run is an annual family event which this year is being held on 12th May. The day is fun for all ages and is a great way to support the local Sawston community.
Organisers of the run said, “This year’s response from charities and good causes for funding at the 2024 Sawston Fun Run & Walk was nothing short of astounding. The passion and dedication exhibited by these organisations left us inspired and motivated. We decided to champion the efforts of 24 smaller, local charities and organisations. These are the unsung heroes making a significant impact on our community.”
Contributions from the fun run will go towards community Bollywood dance workshops, studio space and children’s dance costumes, which will save families an additional expense.
If you’re near to Sawston – or if you’re just looking for a fun-filled family day out – then find more details and sign up on the Sawston Fun Run website.
Supported by Cambridge City Council, Rangeela 2024 was held at Clay Farm Centre, Trumpington on Saturday 20th January. Rangeela, which means colourful, brought people together through south Asian art, music, dance and food!
The event started with a drawing and painting competition followed by a dance showcase by Sanskruti students, and finished with a Bollywood dancefloor by the Cambridge DanceMasti. Along with our?!
Thanks go to Cambridge-based artist Diyali Majumder who judged the art competition, to the Mayor of Cambridge who joined us for the evening, and to our wonderful volunteers who supported the event.
We need to say thank you to the parent volunteers for cooking and bringing food (tuck shop) and to Namaste Cambridge (a local Indian takeaway for bringing food).
If you missed the fun, here’s a flavour of the day, thanks to ITV Anglia:
In January, we had a wonderful week in the studio at Cambridge Junction working on our new R&D, tentatively titled ‘Tree of Life’. The new production once again blends Indian and western cultures, exploring science and spirituality through the medium of trees.
Sanskruti’s Artistic Director worked with a new creative team, dancers Neethu and Srusti, bringing in fresh ideas and energy into the work. We are looking forward to bringing you the next phase of development. In the meantime, have a taste of how our first week of work developed:
Supported by Cambridge Junction and Arts Council England.
Spring is coming and our 2024 has got off to an amazing start! Read our latest news and developments in our February 2024 newsletter.
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Magical Honey
Mercury Theatre and on tour.
25 December 2023
4 Stars
Sanskruti Dance have created this beautiful, graceful, and fun piece, which introduces South Asian dance to children and families alike. It’s the story of
Maya who discovers she can harness her own magic through art and stories, thanks to the help of the celestial being Saraswati. Together they discover the mystical world around them. But their joy is threatened by their evil Headteacher Miss Tusra, who believes no one should enjoy art. (She gives Dahl’s Miss Trunchbull a run for her money)! Together with the audience, Maya needs to combat Miss Tusra and restore beauty to her enchanting world.
It’s a show full of high, non-threatening, audience participation, and there are some wonderful magic tricks that pleased the young audience members, and they were all fascinated throughout. We were encouraged to dance, move, create some of the creatures Maya encounters, and Miss Tusra was very scary with her harsh stare at some of the misbehaved Dads in the audience! The children were invited onto the stage to dance with the company and given activities that they could carry on with after the show.
The dance is beautiful, as is the score, together with exquisite violin playing. It confirms the work that I saw previously in their show Apple N Spice, the connection between nature, art, imagination, and creativity is underlined in a gentle, yet very effective way. It also shows that the library is not a place of punishment for some children- it’s an escape! Highly recommended.
Inspired by the stories of Ramayana and Snow White, Apple ‘N’ Spice is the magical tale of two stepmothers: one from the East and one from the West. Their stories unfold through an interactive, multicultural dance performance, presenting a charming fairytale that offers an original way for children to discover Indian storytelling.
Awards are given by Family Arts Campaign, the national organisation for arts engagement and families. Now in its tenth year, Fantastic for Families Awards is an annual programme open to UK-based cultural organisations or cultural activity organisers, providing creative opportunities, activities, or initiatives for families and older people.
Krishna Zivraj-Nair, Sanskruti’s Artistic Director, said, “We are absolutely thrilled and elated that our East-West fusion dance show Apple ‘N’ Spice has been chosen as one of the winners of the Best Family Arts Activity by Fantastic for Families.
“This means so much to us, as an organisation that wants to bring theatre and dance to children across the UK.”
Sanskruti Dance was one of seven organisations that won awards at an event held on 22 November. A representative from Fantastic for Families said:
“Each year, the Fantastic For Families Awards celebrate the wealth of outstanding creative provision for families and older audiences across the nation. This year’s winners have blown us away, with their incredible events, activities and initiatives – opening opportunities for more collaboration and creativity.”
Apple ‘N’ Spice will continue to tour venues across the UK in 2024, with performances already booked in Cornwall, Glasgow and Luton.
We are delighted to announce that Apple ‘N’ Spice has been shortlisted for a Fantastic for Families Award in the Best Family Arts Activity category.
Fantastic For Families Awards are given by Family Arts Campaign, the national Investment Principles Support Organisation for arts engagement and families, funded by Arts Council England. Now in its tenth year, the Fantastic for Families Awards is an annual programme open to UK-based cultural organisations or cultural activity organisers, providing creative opportunities, activities, or initiatives for families and older people.
The winners of the Fantastic For Families 2023 Awards will be announced on 22 November 2023.
Visit familyarts.co.uk/2023-awards to find out more about the Fantastic For Families Awards programme.