Community and celebration of heritage are the beating heart of Leeds-based charity, South Asian Arts.
Since 1997, South Asian Arts have been promoting the study and celebration of traditional South Asian music and dance in and around Leeds, encouraging people to engage with their heritage and get involved with their community.
I was able to speak to them in light of their upcoming performance opportunity for twelve young musicians in London, which was a great chance to chat all things South Asian Arts. I had the privilege of learning all about the organisation’s clear mission statement, motive and history.
SAA has a clear objective which focuses on celebrating and educating South Asian Classical dance and music. They are keen to preserve the traditional whilst also facilitating a more contemporary approach to these art forms. “There is a side of it which thinks about the history and the tradition and maintaining that authenticity, but then there is also an evolution.” Speaking on the merging of past and present within the organisation, it was said that “many young people are born in the UK and so they have a different cultural
perspective on tradition,” It is with this in mind that SAA strives to generate a new perspective that is inclusive for all.
Speaking on the current fundraising initiatives for the upcoming opportunity to perform at the Roundhouse in London in April, we asked what the audience can expect. “Rise is going to be a very special opportunity to get composing from young people, which is something that doesn’t happen that often… composing is something that feels quite unapproachable; and it feels like something that is connected to Western classical music and kind of an old thing in some ways, but the good thing about Rise is that it just breaks that idea, and it creates new pieces composed by young people. The other beautiful thing about that partnership with Future Talent is that young people that have this opportunity to perform and compose, they are then owners of that composition. Which is a detail that is quite unique in a way it’s not something where someone facilitated the composition and so their name is on the composition. It’s just going to be the names of the twelve young people working with us on this project.”
The young people involved have total dominion of the piece they will be performing for audiences. Serendipity, the name, was chosen by one of the young musicians feeling that it resonated with the entire group and captured this shared experience and the common connection amongst them all. Most of the children involved in this project are students of the academies and the classes offered by SAA, which have been running for over ten years. Taught weekly, there is wide variety of music and dance classes on offer for all ages – the eldest currently being in her seventies!
SAA regularly holds events and performances which are a great introduction to the work they do and are highly anticipated occasions. “Our Summer Solstice Festival is a date that everyone should have in their diary. It’s our biggest show of the year: there are international artists, there are instruments that are hard to come by in the UK and there is a mix of North and South Indian Music. It is very special; seeing the sunrise of the shortest night of the year with music is always a beautiful idea. It’s a great show to bring your friends to and there is, obviously, always food, tea and coffee.” I would definitely keep an eye out for the confirmed details of this event – it sounds like an incredible evening.
Music came first for this organisation, but is not its only defining factor. Rightly said “dance is part of movement set to music, so it made sense for us to expand to that as well.” With weekly classes taking place all over the City, including traditional styles at Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Chapeltown, there is the opportunity here for many people to be involved with something that suits them.
Unfortunately, initiatives such as those that South Asian Arts have to offer are not cheap and rely not only on the continued support from the Government and local council funding, but also the generosity of donations. To further this, such funding can be unpredictable. They say that “we receive grants from the Leeds City Council; we’ve been very fortunate that they keep supporting our work. Obviously, the council, like every council in cities in the country at the moment, have, their own challenges. Obviously [funding] is a big question mark – Will it continue next year? Will it continue in the next few years?”
It is important that we show our support for organisations like SAA. They provide such a positive contribution to society in their celebration of culture and heritage. The best way to keep up to date and involved with the events organised by South Asian Arts is through their website, where you will find all the information you need to know. This includes how to donate, a brief history of the organisation and where and when you can get involved.
Photograph by Future Talent: Declan Creffield.
