This interactive one-day practical workshop, led by Suba Subramaniam, Akademi’s Artistic Director and choreographer, will dive into the dynamic world of South Asian dance and explore its power to address critical issues of today, especially environmental crisis.
The workshop, designed for dance artists, leaders, students, and teachers, is inspired by Akademi’s critically acclaimed show, Plastic Drastic Fantastic - a contemporary dance theatre work for children and their families which explores our complex relationship with plastics, the fantastic possibilities they offer, as well as the drastic consequences to the environment.
Journey through the creative process of this Key Stage 2-targeted show (children aged 7-11), discovering how the team translated the fascinating properties of plastics into engaging movement-based play and experimental music. The workshop will also explore the creative ways in which the show was made accessible to d/Deaf audiences.
This is an opportunity to share ideas, collaborate, and get seriously creative in a fun, supportive environment. By attending this workshop you will gain:
- Insights into the creation of Plastic Drastic Fantastic and making it accessible as well as the learnings obtained from the process
- An understanding of how Akademi uses South Asian dance to raise awareness about topical issues like climate change
- Practical resources and inspiration to integrate environmental themes into your own dance practice
- A deeper appreciation of the expressive power of South Asian dance.
This workshop is ideal for dancers, teaching artists and community practitioners from any style or movement background wanting to learn more about the workshop themes - from early career artists wishing to explore new ideas to more experienced artists interested in developing or expanding a specialism.