About Kala The Arts
Kala the Arts is a leading voice of South Asian Arts in the UK
From grassroots origins to international audiences, we produce high-quality dance projects, develop artistic careers and improve wellbeing for our participants.
Our medium is the classical Indian dance of Odissi. Originating from the Bay of Bengal over two thousand years ago, Odissi deals with themes that remain just as relevant in storytelling today, from love and devotion to anger and sorrow.
Founded by our Artistic Director Sushmita Pati, Kala The Arts has spent 25 years sharing this ancient art form with schools and communities from our base in Hampshire. We create new professional pieces of work for touring to arts venues, outdoor spaces and festivals. We’re also an established Arts in Education charity, working with professional artists to exchange our knowledge and expertise, ready to be shared across our educational workshops, residencies and classes.
“Kala the Arts is encouraging mothers and daughters to share the joy of dancing together.”
Sonal Mansingh
Our dancers and artists deliver renowned workshops and performances that bring Odissi to thousands of new audience members every year. Full of graceful movement, dancers of all ages and experiences are invited to try Odissi, an opportunity to put daily life on hold and connect back to a centuries-old practice of expression. Through dance, we promote diversity, integration and community cohesion.
Did you know?
Kala means ‘the arts’ in Sanskrit, so as our name suggests, Kala The Arts enables an ancient Indian dance to meet a new, contemporary audience here in the UK.