Glasgow dance academy to host events to celebrate the community

Launched by BEMIS Scotland, Scotland on Tour and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a £50,000 funding pot was opened up to groups led by minority ethnic communities, musicians and singers to stage exciting and diverse concerts, celebrations and performance opportunities for people in their local areas this month.

Tarang Dance Academy, which specialises in the classical Indian dance Kathak and seeks to overcome cultural, language, mental and physical barriers through the sport, was one of eight recipients to benefit from the ‘Multicultural Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fund’ and will be hosting an event.

Tarang Dance Academy (Image: Tarang Dance Academy)

This will be a showcase of Scottish and Indian music at Maryhill’s Community Central Hall on Saturday, September 24, from 5-8pm, bringing together Highland dancers with the music of Bollywood.

Sudakshina Kundu, artistic director at Tarang Dance Academy Glasgow, said: "We will bring our local talents together with professionals from Reeley Jiggered and Hugh School of Dancing.

"We are all delighted to perform on stage, especially after two years of Covid.

“Thanks to Scotland on Tour for this innovative idea, where people will celebrate the Fringe all over Scotland after the dark phase due to the pandemic. All of the dancers are really excited to perform after such a long time."

Tarang Dance Academy (Image: Tarang Dance Academy)

Meanwhile, on Sunday, October 2, Bollywood Garba, which will be funded through ticket sales, will take place in Pollokshaws Burgh Hall.

Sudakshina said: "The local community will come along and celebrate together through Indian Dance Garba. We already sold all tickets, so here we will also see, after Covid, communities being back to the joyful spirits, as they were before. This will be during Indian Festive Time Navaratri (where we worship goddess Durga, the good over the evil)."

The other groups receiving funding are Africado Events, African Caribbean Society of Scotland, Ando Glaso, Healed Scars Trauma and Abuse Recovery Scotland, Isaro Community Initiative, PKAVS Minority Communities Hub and Up2Stndrd.

Neil Gray, MSP and Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, and representatives from each of the organisations involved (Image: PR)

Rami Ousta, chief executive of BEMIS Scotland, said: “BEMIS strongly believes that our multicultural heritage in Scotland continues to offer a cherished platform to showcase our active citizenship and inclusive national identity as equal Scottish citizens.

“We are definitely committed to enhancing and nourishing our collaborative relationships with Scotland on Tour and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to facilitate and progress equal participation of the diverse communities regularly for the coming years.”