Asian dance theatre: performance through the lens

An exhibition of images of Asian performers taken by UK photographers in the past 30 years.

22nd January – 21st March 2009

How has Asian Dance Theatre been photographed in Britain in the past 30 years? This exhibition will present images of Asian dance theatre performance, especially, but not exclusively, of South Asian dance, as seen through the lens of six well known British photographers who specialise in performance/dance shoots (Helen Burrows, Hugo Glendinning, Nick Gurney, Chris Nash, Allan Parker and Vipul Sangoi), covering the period from the late 1970s to present times. In addition, the exhibition will feature images of Asian performers in Britain commissioned by Akademi, one of the leading South Asian dance organisations in the UK, currently celebrating its thirtieth year of activities. A smaller, complementary exhibition will run separately in the foyer of the SOAS Khalili Lecture Theatre, presenting a history of South Asian dance in Britain through images belonging to Akademi. The images in both exhibitions will be of a range of performance styles, some of which tradition based, others of artists who see themselves as working in a contemporary hybrid mode. The overall aim is to visualise how contemporary imaginaries inform new styles of presentation and determine new ways of perceiving, and consuming, Asian dance performance as a visual medium in the UK context.

The Photographers

• Helen Burrows
• Hugo Glendinning
• Nick Gurney
• Chris Nash
• Allan Parker
• Vipul Sangoi

Colloquium: Photographing Asian dance performance - 28/02/2009

A colloquium on the topic of ‘Photographing Asian dance performance’ open to the general public and organised by the SOAS Centre for Media and Film Studies will take place on 28th February 2009 in the SOAS Khalili Lecture Theatre, as a major event associated with the exhibition. Through the colloquium a range of questions will be explored, pertaining to the relationship between photography, choreography and the performance of Asian dance theatre.

Exhibition curated by Alessandra Lopez y Royo .

Sponsored by Akademi , South Asian Dance in UK