About Kala The Arts
Kala The Arts is the leading South Asian Dance organisation in the region. We are also the leading Odissi Dance organisation in the UK. You can find out more about Odissi and our Odissi work here www.blueroomitdev.co.uk/. We run a wide range of many different community and educational programmes and how arts, in particular dance has helped communities and individuals. We work in partnership with many different arts, educational, Councils and community organisations. 2024 marked 26 years of KTA working in this region.
A Brand new website comes live on the 1st of October 2024 ! Count down begins !
Also, we would very much welcome your feedback about our Diwali Light it up events, the performance or the workshops. Here is a link where you can quickly and easily do this online so please just click here.
Autumn term classes starts on the 14th of September in Basingstoke and 15th September in Reading and events and performances coming up in October, November and December. Exhibition launch at Reading museum on the 26th of October and Diwali Light it Up with Mega Parade on the 8th of November. Popley mini festival and sharing is on the 21st of November
Mission Statement
Developing South Asian Dance and related Arts, in particular Odissi, within the Southwest region and beyond is Kala The Arts’ (KTA) key purpose and reason.
Kala The Arts is the leading South Asian Dance organisation in the region. We are also the leading Odissi Dance organisation in the UK. You can find out more about Odissi and our Odissi work here www.blueroomitdev.co.uk/. We run a wide range of many different community and educational programmes and how arts, in particular dance has helped communities and individuals. We work in partnership with many different arts, educational, Councils and community organisations. 2024 marked 26 years of KTA working in this region.
A Brand new website comes live on the 1st of October 2024 ! Count down begins !
Also, we would very much welcome your feedback about our Diwali Light it up events, the performance or the workshops. Here is a link where you can quickly and easily do this online so please just click here.
Autumn term classes starts on the 14th of September in Basingstoke and 15th September in Reading and events and performances coming up in October, November and December. Exhibition launch at Reading museum on the 26th of October and Diwali Light it Up with Mega Parade on the 8th of November. Popley mini festival and sharing is on the 21st of November
Mission Statement
Developing South Asian Dance and related Arts, in particular Odissi, within the Southwest region and beyond is Kala The Arts’ (KTA) key purpose and reason.
PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES & PRODUCTIONSKala is the leading Odissi Dance Company in
the UK and also works with leading South Asian musicians. The Artistic Director Sushmita Pati is an international Choreographer who choreographs new productions working in partnerships with creative partners. Kala creates work with leading award winning professional South Asian dancers, commissions well known composers and visual arists for creative productions. We also deliver Artist Development programmes. (Photograph above of Satranj Production by Paul Mannering Photography) |
EVENTSKala has 25 years experience of working with
a wide variety of partners, local councils, arts and heritage organisations, museums, to create social awareness and engaging projects and programmes to reach different communities. Over the last 2 years due to Covid these projects have helped with social isolation and health and well being. (Photograph above of Statranj Production by Adam Pegg) And here is a link to a short clip of our Diwali Light it Up Festival in Basingstoke in 2023.
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EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMESKala runs successful dance and music classes and workshops across a wide range of South Asian dance and music forms.
Kala The Arts works with various schools across the County on a regular basis delivering health and well being projects, music, visual arts, creative projects and dance projects. Through our programmes schools receive arts awards and also it helps them promote physical health, diversity and inclusion and creative arts programmes. Kala also runs training for teachers, headteachers health workers, Primary care workers, museum staff, parents, community workers, venues, cultural providers and politicians. To date Kala has worked with 266 schools across Hampshire and Berkshire. 16 of those schools we have devised long term two to three years projects on health and well being and diversity. More details in schools page. The above photo is KTA as resident company at BCoT college for two years 2013 -2015. |
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Dance Classes Registration
To book a place on any of our dance courses, please download the booking form opposite and forward to [email protected] |
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KTA Participated in U Dance National Event and Got Appreciation
The panel appreciated that this was not the originally intended performance but congratulate the group. "...It was very interesting to see close up performances with such lovely personalities on show. It was youthful and charming. The dancers had a lovely engagement with both the work and camera. Because there were close ups which showed faces and eyelines, the dancers could connect even more with narrative elements..."
The panel encourages this group to continue to expand their movement vocabulary with more rehearsal as they clearly enjoy what they do and are well trained. They honoured traditions well and the piece got a brilliant response from the audience. This could be developed into an excellent resource.
The panel encourages this group to continue to expand their movement vocabulary with more rehearsal as they clearly enjoy what they do and are well trained. They honoured traditions well and the piece got a brilliant response from the audience. This could be developed into an excellent resource.
Sushmita Pati discusses, "Gender dynamics and cultural narratives" in recent interview with Asian Voice, read full interview at below link.
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Job vacancies
Digital Marketing Officer !! updated We are looking for Digital Marketing Officer to join our dynamic and creative team made up of staff, volunteers & committed trustees. This is new role & provides exciting opportunity for successful candidate to collaborate, share ideas & make role their own. |
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Production Manager !! - UPDATED
The Production Manager will take a lead on the effective planning and delivery of Kala’s outdoor programmes, our Light it Up “Diwali” Festival programmes across multiple sites. The role will be vital to the success of the festival, involving working closely with communities, artists, schools and creatively working alongside Kala’s Artistic Director and CEO. |
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Trustees Position ! Be A Trustee....
Interested in the Arts, Heritage and Culture? Do you have the time, skills and passion to support a local independent charity? Then read on ….. Kala the Arts is growing! And we are looking for interested and experienced trustees to join our Board. |
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ODISSI DANCE MASTERCLASS
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Autumn TERM CLASSES 24 coming up
Details of Kala's exciting Autumn Classes and events in Basingstoke & Reading and South west coming up . You can book soon !
Feedback
“My daughter’s Odissi classes has helped her come out of her comfort zone and be more confident and expressive in her daily life. She is more lively and enjoy the little things in life.” Rakhe Moneyum
“We have appreciated the Guru's full involvement in my daughters dance class. Her commitment to preserving and developing the Indian classical dance creatively is commendable.” Amit Kaul
“I am in love with my Kathak dance class its so creative and I learn a lot and we get huge opportunities to share our dance and it brings communities together.” Divya
”I enjoy teaching young people Indian classical music and eventually some Bollywood music. Its through classical music training one discovers the sound ground to improve the voice quality, passion for singing and skills. I am blessed to be also guided by my Guru Vidushi Dr Sarojini Pati.” Pankhuri Verma
“My daughter’s Odissi classes has helped her come out of her comfort zone and be more confident and expressive in her daily life. She is more lively and enjoy the little things in life.” Rakhe Moneyum
“We have appreciated the Guru's full involvement in my daughters dance class. Her commitment to preserving and developing the Indian classical dance creatively is commendable.” Amit Kaul
“I am in love with my Kathak dance class its so creative and I learn a lot and we get huge opportunities to share our dance and it brings communities together.” Divya
”I enjoy teaching young people Indian classical music and eventually some Bollywood music. Its through classical music training one discovers the sound ground to improve the voice quality, passion for singing and skills. I am blessed to be also guided by my Guru Vidushi Dr Sarojini Pati.” Pankhuri Verma
Details of Diwali Light it Up and Reading Diwali Parade 2024 coming up Next
Previous DIWALI Light It Up 2023 photos below
October to November 2023
Kala is putting on a really exciting series of different events as part of our DIWALI - Light It Up programmes in both Basingstoke and Reading in association with different partners. Details below. #diwalilightitup.
NB if you are visiting Basingstoke to attend it, parking is available in Festival Place. But both sites are very near the train station and 5 or 10 minutes walk from the station. The address of the start of the parade is Willows Coffee House, 37 Church St, Basingstoke, RG21 7QQ, although we would ask you join it just a bit further on say outside the Willis Museum.
And the address of the performance is the Amphitheatre, Festival Place, Basingstoke, RG21 7BB. This is just outside Festival Place via the cinema exit.
NB if you are visiting Basingstoke to attend it, parking is available in Festival Place. But both sites are very near the train station and 5 or 10 minutes walk from the station. The address of the start of the parade is Willows Coffee House, 37 Church St, Basingstoke, RG21 7QQ, although we would ask you join it just a bit further on say outside the Willis Museum.
And the address of the performance is the Amphitheatre, Festival Place, Basingstoke, RG21 7BB. This is just outside Festival Place via the cinema exit.
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Kala The Arts, c/o BVA, The Orchard, Basingstoke, RG21 4AF. Reg Charity 1076790 Reg Company 03686034
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