Free

The exhibition, Indian Strings and Dances launches on 10th April at the Museum of Croydon. This colourful, interactive exhibition is curated by the London Sitar Ensemble, the Museum of Croydon and Sutton Subrang and will showcase the best in Indian music and dance.

Indian music and dance is one of the finest traditions in the world. The exhibition will trace the story of these art forms, tracking the evolutionary changes, transformations and contributions of musicians and dancers, both famous and unknown.

The 400-year history of travel, migration and cultural exchange between India and Britain has had a significant influence on the cultural scene in Britain. Indian Strings and Dances aims to explore the significant influence and contribution made by the musicians and dancers of South Asia in Britain.

The exhibition will encompass oral history interviews, digital video performances, displays of musical instruments, costumes and photography across three separate areas of the Museum. Integral to the exhibition is a programme of events including lectures and demonstrations.  

A special Family Day will feature the Sutton Subrang Dance Ensemble performing a colourful extravaganza of vibrant folk dances from Gujarat as well as holding Arts and Crafts Workshops. A Dance Workshop welcomes adults and children to try mastering the graceful Manipuri dance moves from North East India. The Family Day will end with a Sarod recital by multifaceted artist Somjit Dasgupta.

A series of performances by high profile musicians and dancers will include classical dance forms from the temples of Orissa and Sattriya dance, the oldest spiritual dance form originating from 15th century Assam. A highlight of the exhibition will be performances on rarely heard traditional string instruments such as Sarangi, Surbahar, Santoor and Sarod as well as cross cultural collaborations of Sitar with Kora, Cello and Harp.

The deceased, legendary dancer Ram Gopal, who spent his last years in a Norbury nursing home was the most influential dancer from the Indian Sub-Continent. Gopal raised the profile of Indian Dance in the West and the exhibition pays tribute to him with a display of one of his famous Garuda costumes (Eagle costume) and Head Crown. This will be the first time that it has been displayed publicly after his death. 

The Museum of Croydon is at Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street, Croydon, CR9 1ET. Open hours Monday to Saturday 10.30am-5pm. Full details of all the events can be found on www.museumofcroydon.com
 
Indian Strings and Dances Events:
11 April. A Family Day celebration of Indian Music and Dance, including Art & Craft workshops. Manipuri dance workshop by Roshni Mallick. Sarod recital by Somjit Dasgupta.

15 April. Perspectives on Indian music in the UK and the work of the AMC. Viram Jasani Lecture Demonstration
 
25 April. Oddissi Dance by Katherine Ryan. Sattriya Dance by Menaka Bora. Sitar and Harp by Vijay Jagtap and Evelyn Harvey

9 May. Mohiniattyam dance by Parvati Nair. Manorama Prasad and her musicians. Sarangi performance by Nicolas Magriel. Growing up in music in North India. Lecture by Nicolas Magriel.
 
20 May. Indian music recordings at the British Library. Research, preservation and access. Lecture by Dr. Janet Fargion Topp from the British Libray Sound Archive
 
23 May. Kuchipudi Dance by Chaittanya Unni and Shiju Menon. Mainpuri Dance by Roshni Mallick. Baluji Shrivastav plays the Surbahar (bass Sitar)
 
18 July. Kaviraj Singh and Upneet Singh play Santoor and Tabla. Roopa Panesar and Upneet Singh play Sitar and Tabla. Tarun Jasani and Surdarshan Chhana play Sarod and Jori pakhawaj. Development of Indian Music in the UK. Lecture by Dharambir Singh.
 
31 July. Closing Ceremony. Sanjay Guha, Tunde Jegede and James Barallet play a cutting edge cross cultural collaboration between different genres of musicians showing the journey of Indian music in multicultural Britain.