Modern Mela
T0
Presented by the Gung Ho Down, celebrate Pohela Baishak (Bengali New Year) with Southbank Centre with a unique spin on the Mela. Presenting a range of diasporic Bengali musicians and dancers who have kept the Bengali culture alive abroad, join us to recognise 40 years of Bangladesh's independence with dance, music and photography. Paban Das Baul - legendary inside and outside of Bengal, and known for his hit song 'Dil ki Doya' with producer Sam Mills - headlines this colourful day. Shama Rahman and Sanchita Farruque - both British-Bengali singer-songwriters - bring us their unique sound from an eclectic variety of influences. Himangshu Goswami is the well-known composer of 'Sadher Lau', a song second only to the national anthem in its popularity with Bangladeshis. Having performed with George Harrison, Ali Akbar Khan and Ravi Shankar on the soundtrack to Gandhi, Goswami was trained as a classical singer before turning to folk and traditional songs. He also performed with Kula Shaker for their hit 'Govinda'. He performs with his son, Himanish Goswami, a young tabla player who has been a student of tabla maestro Pandit Kumar Bose. Dance troupe Tridhara also present their energetic and creative dance theatre pieces ranging from traditional folk, harvest and monipuri dances to contemporary pieces. Throughout the day a digital photography projection shows iconic and symbolic images from each of the 40 years of Bangladesh as a nation in its own right, taking us through historically significant moments right through to present day. In collaboration with Drik Gallery in Dhaka for archive footage and curated and contributed to by Shama Rahman and N. Haider Chowdhury.
Archive :: dance or ballet:S02031730032, venue:V423
Production details
Alchemy Festival - The Clore Ballroom
