India Flamenco
The audience are guided gently through a loose migration tale via the lightly-dramatic narrative and three female solos in bharatanatyam, belly-dance and flamenco.
14 September 2016
Review
Zakir Hussain: Peshkar
There are few brighter stars in the Hindustani music firmament than Zakir Hussain. Whether on or off stage he is… Read More
4 July 2016
Butoh Dance Training
Last night I saw Juju Alishina perform Red Night in Stroud, a mesmerising and compelling evening, with three contrasting pieces… Read More
4 July 2016
Until the Lions
Until the Lions reminded me of the vagaries of attending performances. For no planned reason, neither I nor my three companions on the evening had read any material about the performance beforehand.
14 March 2016
Navodit
It was a typical February evening in London: grey skies with a light drizzle, one that doesn’t invoke much joy. But when the house lights dimmed and the first twang of sitar filled the space, we may well have been in a Mogul court preparing to be dazzled
14 March 2016
Treya’s Last Dance
In the darkness, the tinkling of ankle bells heralds the arrival of Shyam Bhatt on stage. An accomplished Indian dancer,… Read More
14 March 2016
Margam
The buzz at the Southbank Centre, with close to sold-out performances throughout the programme, demonstrates the growing momentum of the Darbar Festival. On the final evening, the organisers scheduled a leap into the world of classical Indian dance; a decision that I am sure they do not regret.
24 December 2015
Shakti
Dance professionals adept at the classical form odissi tend to receive less attention in the UK than those who practise either bharatanatyam or kathak.
24 December 2015
Pelva Naik – Chant Dhrupad
Pelva Naik’s afternoon recital was a reminder of how important the Darbar Festival is now. Its track record for bringing over new acts or acts new to the UK is exemplary.
24 December 2015
Mita Nag – Seduced by the Sitar
The sitarist Mita Nag is, as we say, her father’s daughter. It was Ira Landgarten’s New York-based label Raga Records that first planted her father Manilal Nag’s music in my head in the 1990s.
24 December 2015