ROOTS Intensive Dance Program Success

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In July 2023 we announced our new dance intensive program ROOTS created by our Associate Artistic Director Kesha Raithatha. Consisting of five workshops, five weekends and five renowned companies in the dance industry, we were delighted to collaborate with our friends at Russell Maliphant & Dana Fouras, Hofesh Shechter Company, Alleyne Dance, Akram Khan Company and have our own Associate Artistic Director Melissa Ugolini lead the workshop for Aakash Odedra Company.

Whilst the program was open to all pre and early professional dancers, Aakash Odedra Company also sponsored a cohort of five talented emerging dance artists to support their journey in the industry. Scholarships were awarded to Jess Bennett, Divija Mellaly, Krishna Priya Natarajan, Holly Jones, and Alexander Carpentier, all hailing from various parts of the UK and each representing a range of dance disciplines. Over the five weekends, a total of 81 participants joined the cohort in workshops that explored various dance styles and techniques, company repertoire, improvisation and creative sessions. These workshops have helped participants to develop and shape their own practice that they can take forward into their future artistic endeavors.

The feedback from our ROOTS program has been both encouraging and inspiring with participants sharing the following feedback with us;

“This workshop has benefited me as an artist as it has widened my knowledge, physicality and perspectives.” – Alleyne Dance workshop

“I really enjoyed finding ranges of movement within my own body, and the meditative practices at the start of each session which invited us to link our movements to our internal energies.” – Russell Maliphant & Dana Fouras workshop

As a company who are committed to nurturing the next generation of artists, we look forward to future programs that will provide dancers with the opportunity to discover their own path.

Growing ROOTS, to find your Routes. Witnessing these young dancers take this journey together, to find their unique, individual voices has been a most rewarding privilege. All an artist needs is a chance, someone, and a space that believes in them. With this, magic happens. ” – Kesha Raithatha.

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