Choreographed by Nandita Shankardass
In collaboration with Dance Artists Anjana Bala, Tulani Kayani-Skeef, Vidya Patel
Music by Music by Amrit Kaur, Alam Khan, Shammi Pithia, Sabiyha and Flux

Nandita was a selected 101 Outdoor Arts Seedbed Artist 2024, invited to push the boundaries of work for the outdoors and in public spaces. 

‘Roots to Rise’ (working title) explores ancestry, agriculture, ecological activism and the inherent wisdom of women, embodied by dance artists Anjana Bala, Tulani Kayani – Skeef and Vidya Patel.

Nandita’s research has been inspired and motivated by events throughout India’s history from the cotton empire and the spinning wheel, the Chipko movement and the violence of the green revolution to the Women’s peace camp at Greenham Common here in the U.K. It considers and reflects on the importance of our dependency on water and soil, our relationship to the land and to one another.

Within a partnership with OmVed Gardens, Nandita facilitated and curated participatory experiences for shared learning, wellbeing, exchange and reflection around nature, family, culture and memory at the gardens for their community, especially for the South Asian community and at the Asian Women’s Resource Centre, which has also informed and influenced the research and development of the work. Read more here.

These experiences and the dance work aspire to build awareness around our contribution to the ecosystem to regenerate and deepen our relationship to the earth, evoking freedom, resilience and community.

A sharing of the work took place at 101 Outdoor Arts in 17th May and again on 19th May at OmVed Gardens and was followed by a Q&A in conversation with Poonam Brah

Supported by 101 Outdoor Arts Seedbed R&D residency and in partnership with OmVed Gardens (with additional support from Akademi)

Review Dance Art Journal

Following on from this R&D stage, Roots to Rise received support from Without Walls and been commissioned by An Indian Summer Festival, Stockton International Riverside Festival and Brighton Festival to tour the U.K in 2025 and 2026
Read more here