It has been a pleasure spending the past two months working closely with the Sampad team, as a part of my University’s SME Internship scheme. I am so grateful for the warm welcome I have received and the way in which I have been able to develop my interests and gain insightful experience into the arts by working both smaller weekly classes in the local Birmingham community such as Let’s Dance! to the sold-out Indian wedding celebration Midsummer Masti.
Through attending smaller community classes run by Sampad such as Let’s Dance! At the beginning of my placement, I developed an understanding of the vital role Sampad plays in the local community. The class is led by a specialist artist and works with a capacity of up to 6 people, normally those with less mobility or who are older, and engages them with exercise through dance and the use of props such as silks. Don’t be fooled though – I broke a sweat! It was the last session of the term, and the attendees shared exactly how important the class was for them, allowing them to have a reason to get up each day, because they had somewhere to be and it provides a sense of community.
I also spent a day documenting the Dance Leaders Group (DLG) and Step Change Studios Diversity and Inclusion in Dance workshop, offered by Sampad. During the session we heard from a variety of dancers who have visual impairments or use wheelchairs, which informed my subsequent month or so at Sampad, as I’m sure it will my future work. Both within this workshop and my time spent creating content for Sampad I have learnt how important it is to create content that is accessible to those with visual and auditory impairments.
I spent the majority of my placement working with the team and Anandita Khan on the British council funded Neel Akash Research and Development project. It was a pleasure to get to know Anandita and learn about the research she had undertaken in Bahadurpur, informing the Neel Akash project that will hopefully serve as an educational tool on climate change going forwards.
I was honoured to be given full creative freedom in writing questions for, filming and editing the Neel Akash Project Video, releasing soon. This video interviews each artist involved in the R&D project, discussing the vitality of the work, its background and its future. I also worked on various blogs throughout this period, such as a Get to Know Anandita post and In Bahadurpur with Anandita Khan. I also worked closely with Hayley and Buzby to develop short form content on Instagram, Shorts and TikTok to communicate the importance of the project and Sampad’s purpose as an organisation.
Towards the end of my placement, I had the pleasure of attending the DLG West Midlands meeting with Sampad director, Piali Ray. It was incredible to have the opportunity to hear from and even share ideas with such talented and experienced voices in dance from across the West Midlands.
I also worked the Midday Mantra: Summer Serenade event. It was lovely to spend this event with Piali, James and the Birmingham University interns, and to really engage with a range of Indian music styles through modern takes on classical songs.
To finish my placement, I was working on promotion for and the helping with the Midsummer Masti event. It was such a great opportunity to work with a range of creative people in Birmingham, from set designer Dhamesh, the groups dancing in the performance and DJ Palak. The night itself was a fabulous sold-out affair, where thankfully the rain held off, and I was grateful to finish my placement dancing under the evening sky in the outdoor theatre with the Sampad team, the Midsummer Masti audience and the 5 dance groups involved in the performance’s development.
