Monday 31 October 2011

Kathakbox vox-pops!



Touring the UK and internationally in 2011-12, Kathakbox is our new production which brings together Kathak dance, hip hop, contemporary dance, beatbox, tabla vox and spoken word. We asked some of of our audience members at the Corsham Festival, Wiltshire; The Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough; and The Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton what they thought of the show. As you can see, people of all ages and backgrounds are loving it!

With thanks to Shan Bansil for additional filming and Dawn Jackson for editing.

Monday 12 September 2011

Ekalya: classical Kathak performance on 6th October 2011



Sonia Sabri Company present: Ekalya
Thursday 6 October 2011 7pm
Priory School
39, Sir Harry’s Road, Birmingham B15 2UR
Tickets £7.50 (Advance) £ 10 (at the Door)
Tel: 0121 440 4103 Email:
enquiries@prioryschool.net
light refreshments will be served
ekalya-web

“full of vibrant energy...uplifting and highly enjoyable” (Londondance.com)
Ekalya (meaning ‘solo’ or ‘the one’) is a beautifully intimate crafting of dance and live music from Sonia Sabri, a leading light in the world of Indian Kathak dance.
Kathak is an exhilarating dance experience: an astounding display of precise footwork, eloquent gesture, rapid turns and intricate, heart-pounding rhythms. Internationally acclaimed for her electric stage presence and distinctive personal style, Sonia revisits the classical roots of Kathak in a high-impact performance which embraces a rich, joyful spirit and builds to a heart-pounding rhythmic crescendo.
This stunning production features evocative live music from an ensemble of musicians including sitar, vocal, and tabla from the world renowned maestro Sarvar Sabri.
“Such an incredible musicality, it was impossible not to gaze in wonder and adoration…An uplifting crescendo of music and dance” (Dance Europe)

Dance & Music classes - Autumn 2011

Sonia Sabri Company’s dance and music classes are an exciting opportunity for people of all ages and experiences to discover the joy and versatility of Indian dance and music, with acclaimed professional performers and teachers.
Classes take place at mac (Midlands Arts Centre), Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham. All classes start week beginning 12th September, and each term lasts for 12 weeks. To book, call mac on 0121 446 3232 or visit
www.macarts.co.uk
kathakaars-web

Dance Classes

Join the company on an exploration of the joy of Indian dance! Students will have the opportunity to perform; take grade examinations through ISTD; and opportunity to be recruited by
Kathakaars dance and music company led by Sonia Sabri.

Creative Indian Dance

Combining techniques from Indian classical Kathak, folk, contemporary and Urban styles, set to modern Indian fusion. Develop good technique, posture, and confidence, and grow into a versatile dancer. These classes are ideal for children, and can also be enjoyed by mothers alongside their children.
Saturday 12 – 1pm
Age: 8+ Level: Beginners
Tickets £75.00 (£63.00)
Book online here

Kathak Classes

Kathak is a rich, diverse and rewarding art form which is enjoyable to learn and develops grace, control, posture and above all confidence. Develop skill, ability and an understanding of this richly diverse north Indian dance style. Classes will look to create new dance pieces, inspired by other cultural references.
Saturday 1 – 2pm
Age: 8+ Level: Beginners/Improvers
Tickets: £75 (£63)
Book online here

Music classes

tabla-web

Tabla classes

The tabla consists of a set of two drums, treble and bass, and originates from Northern India. In these lively group sessions you will learn basic strokes, rhythm and speed control. The class is taught by renowned performer, composer and teacher Sarvar Sabri.
Wednesdays 7pm-8pm
Age: 8+ to Adult Level: Beginners/Improvers
Price: £85 (£70)
Book online here
Advanced classes and private tuition are also available upon request. For further information please contact Sonia Sabri Company on 0121 442 6742 or email
info@ssco.org.uk.


Thursday 9 June 2011

Kathakbox nominated for a London Dance Award – support us!

Sonia Sabri Company has been nominated for the London Dance Award for it’s hugely successful touring show Kathakbox. In order for us to win, we need as many ‘likes’ or ‘tweets’ as we can get. Please support us by visting the link below, scrolling down to Kathakbox and ‘liking’ the review.
http://www.londonfestivalfringe.com/general/awards2011/dance/
Many thanks from the Kathakboxers!

Check out the Kathakbox trailer!



Let us know what you think!

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Kathakbox: Views and Reviews!

We're getting some fantastic feedback for Kathakbox on the road, here's a taster of what people have been saying so far...
Press:
"Sabri devises a
dialogue between forms that is at once familiar and new; and by introducing these forms to one another without allowing one to take over from the other, the piece makes a light and playful comment on cultural identity and difference. As Sabri’s own final rap puts it: “You, me, him, her, we are what we are.” Above all, Kathakbox looks like it’s heaps of fun to perform. During the extended body percussion section, in which all seven performers slap arms, legs and torsos to produce a tub-thumping beat that gets the audience clapping and whooping along, they looked like they were enjoying themselves so much I felt like jumping up onstage to join them. Sabri herself is cute as a button and full of vibrant energy, and dancers Amayra Fuller, Suzanne Grubham and Nathan Fuller all easily engage the audience. A very complete piece, with dance, music, spoken word and set all working together to support the theme, Kathakbox is at the same time uplifting and highly enjoyable."
Lise Smith, londondance.com. Full review
here

"The rhythmical complexities combined with...traditional Indian singing would put many modern hip-hop artists to shame. Kathakbox used the idea of needing a racially aware society and made it its own. Sabri asked us to define our own identities regardless of race in what can solely be described as creative genius."
Redbrick. Full review
here
"It was an outstanding evening to say the least, Kathakbox performance had been an amazing mix of a variety of arts, cultures, dances. The event which took place at Abu Dhabi Theater on the 26th of February, is still in our minds!...What makes Kathakbox stands out from the crowd is that it moves you to another planet where no music instruments are used, its only the power of our human bodies. It layers complex Indian rhythms and tabla- vox with the verbal dexterity of multilingual poetry."
Abu Dhabi Zoom
Audiences:
"Inspiring show, cutting edge and brave. Some important commentary about multiculturalism and social cohesion as well. I particularly enjoyed the fusion of music, rhythmic words and dance and the clever merging of disparate dance-styles, that appeared to take every performer out of their "comfort zone" and challenged them to integrate their familiar style with other dance styles. A difficult project that was executed excellently, yet the performance remained entertaining an accessible. Loved it!"
"Amazing performance last night at Abu Dhabi, congratulations to all the artists, loved the 'jugalbandi' part."
"I was one of the lucky few to get a brief preview of the upcoming Kathakbox performances that will be taking place in the UAE this week...in brief, it’s an awesome modern artistic production, by Sonia Sabri and Company, that combines “movement, gesture, expression, music and the spoken word”... Very cool stuff if you ask me and much more than what I had expected."
Whose-sane, Abu Dhabi
"It was very interesting to see the similarities between the different dance styles, and how at the end they are able to express the same things, the show was like a Rosetta stone giving you the keys to understand each dance style. For me that I have never seen Kathak before it was a great way to get to know it, appreciate it and get curious to see and learn more about it."
Omar-paint, UAE
"basically acknowledging differences within our current British culture but emphasising the common human threads that fundamentally conjoin us"
"the whole performance was a collaboration...really clever and extraordinary. It was a really diverse show."
"Different, fabulous!"
"One of the best dance companies I've seen."
"Excellent. A breath of fresh air!"
"Innovative & inspiring."
"The dancers were amazing! There was so much going on!"
A big thank you to all of our wonderful audiences who are really taking the show to heart, we look forward to seeing more of you soon at our forthcoming dates.

Tuesday 26 April 2011

Q & A with Sonia on londondance.com

sonia07


Sonia Sabri
Check out a brand new Q&A with Sonia about Kathakbox, Alchemy, hip hop, NPO and more on:
http://www.londondance.com/content.asp?CategoryID=3904
And don't forget we are performing Kathakbox at The Place, London on 7th May!  Details and bookings here:
http://www.theplace.org.uk/?lid=8639
Hope all of our friends are having a wonderful Spring, see you at a show soon!