Alan Dearling tells us:
I spent about two and a half hours watching the first two performances and workshops at the Dance in the Park at another Todmorden Bandstand event. Lots of happy, exuberant people. Smiling faces. A cultural melting pot during my time there with music and dance from the Hebden Bridge Panards with folk tunes from France and the Breton region. As a group of performers they provide a platform for music and dance, saying:
“Music: We are a scratch band playing French, Breton, Scandinavian and other European Music for dancing. All levels and all acoustic instruments are welcome.
Dance: We dance mostly French and Breton dances like Bourree, Mazurka, Schottishe, An Dro and Hanter Dro as well as Scandinavian dances like Hottis and European dances like Playford and Zwiefacher. Dancers at all levels are welcome and a partner is not needed. Flat shoes and comfortable clothes are recommended for this type of folk dance.”
https://hebdenbridgepanards.uk/
Apologies to those who performed later, including the exploration of Ukrainian dance traditions with Oleksandra Zabudska, and the Feel Good Dance with Rebecca Slaven.
It was an afternoon of sharing and celebrating different cultures through the medium of dance.
Then, something very different, the Annapurna Indian Dance Company with a mighty mix of Bhangra, Bollywood, Punjabi folk and traditional Indian dances. Fab stuff – and greatly enjoyed by the lively crowd, many of whom enthusiastically joined in.
At the helm, the front-man, was Hardeep Sahota, a world-leading specialist on Bhangra and founder of the World Bhangra Council and World Bhangra Day. Incredibly agile, an athletic and charismatic dancer. What a showman! And the four lady dancers brought authenticity to the show, and who performed on stage, and in and amongst the dancers at the DANCE IN THE PARK event epitomised the spirit of dance ‘bringing communities together’.
They work from a base in Halifax. The Annapurna Indian Dance company describe themselves:
“The company aims to introduce the rich artistic and cultural heritage of India through performances of graceful and rhythmic Indian dances and storytelling and is committed to working in the community with people of all ages and abilities.
The company regularly works with Indian storytellers, musicians, puppeteers, percussionists, visual artists and international Indian composers and choreographers and produces vibrant dance projects using the best loved stories from the mythology of India for touring and performances to theatres and Festivals.”
http://www.annapurnadance.com/
And, from a recent post from a Sikh event in Huddersfield, here is a bit more information about Hardeep Sahota, who I think runs dance, story-telling and dj workshops:
“Hardeep Sahota is a British South Asian performing arts practitioner, academic and cultural producer based in Kirklees. With over three decades of experience across dance, music, visual arts, and community-based practice, his work weaves together scholarship, creativity, and cultural heritage. Rooted in collaboration, cultural exchange, and innovation, he leads ambitious interdisciplinary projects that bring professional artists and communities together, nurture emerging talent, and create inclusive pathways into the cultural sector, while connecting local stories to global cultural conversations.”
Hardeep is on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardeep.sahota.14?locale=en_GB
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