Kala The Arts’ International Symposium at Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadlers Wells

Our forthcoming Symposium at Sadlers Wells in London on 23rd May 2026 will explore the topic of ‘Bold ways of being South Asian: Choreography as Critical Intervention’.

Location: Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Ave, London EC1R 4TN

Date: Saturday 23rd May

Time: 10am-5pm

We feel the urgency to gather artists, academics and funders to think through this topic because of the shrinking space for resistance in the arts, as it struggles to convey its importance as an instrumental wellbeing project. We are celebrating the national week of wellbeing through this.

Our symposium will create a space where scholars, collaborators, composers, choreographers, curators, producers, funders, venues, organisations and artists can work together, making critical frameworks accessible and applicable to the ethos, vision, and practices of dance and music organisations across Britain.

“At a moment when parts of Britain question whether multiculturalism has ‘weakened’ national identity, our symposium calls for bold new ways to affirm the South Asian presence in British culture. The challenges faced by our cultural sector including tokenism, environmental injustice, invisibility and structural inequities all require a detailed response.” – The Partnership

We also bring lived experience of the issues faced by South Asian dance in the UK and of the challenges and opportunities which could be available to us.

We will have presentations from the Arts Council, academics who are devising new paradigms of belonging and artists, curators, producers, arts organisations who contribute to a fairer, happier and more fulfilled society.

Programme

Paradigms of Belonging: Visibility and diversity in the cultural industry within the UK and internationally
Dance as Critical and Bold Social Practice: Considering wellbeing and resistance
Sustainability and Legacy: Pathways, partnerships, tourism sector/ industry and future ecosystems
Open House

We invite anyone who has thoughts, questions and changes to contribute to the open house we will facilitate. Overall, this event aims to add power and boldness to South Asian culture in Britain and the invitation is to join that movement.

The event will run from 10.00am to 5.00pm and so there will of course be many opportunities for people to ask questions and discuss the issues, as well as socialise and network.

Our mission in the symposium is to use our shared space to think about South Asian dance critically in the dance industry. We’ll be hearing from dance scholars who have been studying the problems facing the sector for many years. We’ll be connecting our guests to artists and organisations who have been deeply reflective of the challenges they face in creating art that challenges and breaks many barriers.

This symposium is an invitation to anyone working in the creative sector. If you are interested and available, we would love to have you attend this day and be part of the symposium.

Arts Council England to share new paper alongside South Asian Dance & Music resource for delegates

As part of our rich programme of events, Arts Council England will be sharing a newly published paper and practical resource at the Symposium, reporting back on their enquiry into the difficulties surrounding career progression in South Asian dance.

Following interviews with dancers, teachers and organisers from our sector, ACE’s enquiry takes stock of the current status quo, whilst its resource aims to support stronger connections, clearer progression routes and improved access to opportunities for artists working across South Asian dance practices.

The enquiry marks an important step in strengthening shared understanding of how South Asian dance operates within the wider dance ecology in England, and we’re looking forward to hearing responses from our delegates at the Symposium.

Our final line-up for speakers are being confirmed, please check back for more updates in the coming weeks.

Please email office@kalathearts.co.uk if interested to find out more, or you wish to contribute to the programme.