Who We Are

Sushmita Pati - Artistic Director and Choreographer

Sushmita is an international Odissi dancer and choreographer who is based in Hampshire.
See Sushmita's page for more information.

Lorraine Powderly - Administrator and Market Development

Lorraine joined Kala The Arts in December 2011. Lorraine has worked in production and administration of arts companies for a number of years and has recently graduated from the University of Winchester with a 2:1 in Business Management.

Carol Perrett - Admin Assistant

Carol is Kala's Admin Assistant
More information coming soon...

Ankita Chakrabarty Web Administrator (temporary)

Ankita is currently Kala's Web Administrator

Cllr Diane Taylor

Diane has lived in Basingstoke for over 30 years and is married with a son and daughter and three granddaughters. She became a Borough Councillor in 2007 for the Oakley & North Waltham ward – villages to the west of Basingstoke. In her capacity as a church and charity representative, she has been visiting India for many years, which has helped to fuel her interest in Indian art and dance. She visits the sub continent most years and has many good friends there. Her first trip in 1980 was to Orissa, and so Odissi dance is of particular interest. Friends from Orissa came to Basingstoke recently and were delighted to see the purity of Kala the Arts’ Odissi dance. Diane is keen to see the work of Kala grow so that more people can be introduced to the elegance and expressiveness of Indian dance.

Cllr John Barnes - Chairman of Kala Board

John was born in London, but has been resident in Basingstoke for the last thirty years with his wife who sadly passed away two years ago and his daughter.
For the last seven years John has been a councillor for Brighton Hill South and as well as his role as Chairman with Kala, he sits on the board of the Basingstoke Over 55’s forum and is Chair of the Basingstoke U3A. John enjoys travel, crafts and creative arts and has an interest in food, growing his own vegetables from an allotment. He also enjoys writing and writes stories for children, alongside writing his life story.

James Flintoff

James has been a director of Kala for six years and his daughter Annie was a member of 'Prashanti', our youth dance group until last year. He says his involvement with the company has been a terrific adventure! As part of this adventure James has attended extraordinary events and performances like London Mela and the Trafalgar Square “DiWALI on the square” festival as well as Kala's professional productions.
James has always played an active part in the Basingstoke arts scene. Primarily as Administrative Director of the Haymarket Theatre but also as Manager of Central Studio and as Community Manager for Queen Mary's College.
James is now retired but was honoured to be chosen by the Council to receive the Mayor's Award for services to the arts.

Raka Nandra

Raka Nandra runs her own business in Homeopathy consultancy and alternative therapy and comes from trained martial Arts background. Working in Southall she is in the advisory committee of various Arts and cultural groups and brings that experience to Kala The Arts. She is very keen for Kala's work to be seen by audiences all throughout the U.K.

Clara Flintoff

I am a newly elected Director of Kala The Arts. I am an arts professional working in a busy Theatre Corn Exchange in Newbury as the venues Box Office Manager. I have a degree in music and arts administration and a high level of expertise working in a excellent venue which I am happy to share with the company. In addition I was brought up in Basingstoke, went to local schools and QMC, and attended some of Kala's classes and many of Kala's events - consequently I have local knowledge and a great empathy with the company and its work. All of this knowledge and experience will inform my work as a Board Member helping Kala to grow and develop and to meet the challenges faced by all arts organisations in these difficult times.