DanceXchange and Sampad announce new artistic appointments

Expansion plans for Centre for Advanced Training for South Asian and Contemporary Dance.

DanceXchange and Sampad (South Asian Arts and Heritage) announce five exciting new artistic appointments for The Centre for Advanced Training for South Asian and Contemporary Dance, as it enters its tenth year.

Both DanceXchange and Sampad are thrilled to announce the appointments of Artistic Associates Kerry Nicholls, Aakash Odedra and Shane Shambhu, and Principal Artists Mira Balchandran Gokul and Sonia Sabri. Working with our outstanding delivery team, they will steer the CAT’s artistic leadership and vision, and ensure exceptional technique training and mentoring, enabling each and every student to reach their full potential.

The Centre for Advanced Trainingprogramme, is an elite training opportunity for young people aged 11-18, who show exceptional talent and potential in Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Contemporary styles. The Contemporary strand, Dance Generation, recruits young people from the West Midlands, and the South Asian strand, Yuva Gati, is a national programme, recruiting students from across the country. The opportunity to study Bharatanatyam and Kathak at this elite level is unique to this CAT within the UK.

The CAT aims to nurture and develop confident, highly skilled, creative and adaptable dance artists, with exceptional dance technique – and to prepare them for the rigours of professional dance training and future careers in dance.

Piali Ray OBE – Director, Sampad said: “We are delighted to have an outstanding new artistic team on board, eager to share their experience, passion and ambition with this year’s cohort of talented young dancers as they embark upon their journey towards a professional dance career.”

Debbie Jardine – Interim CEO, DanceXchange added: “We see tremendous potential for this programme to be an international exemplar and are committed to ensuring our offer is of exceptional quality and can continually evolve and develop in response to the demands of the dance industry.”