Ascension – free Indian dance performance comes to London, Kendal and Manchester

South Asian Dance production company Akademi are performing Ascension – an outdoor Indian dance performance, inspired by Dante’s ascension to heaven as described in Paradiso, the third part of Dante's poem Divine Comedy, while drawing on Hindu astrology and the nine planets of Navagraha.

The free performance draws on classical Indian dances Kathak and Odissi, fused with the imagery behind Dante’s Paradiso and Mars – the fifth planet of Navgraha, and ruler of the warriors.

Audiences will be guided through each site on a journey of Ascension to the heavens as dancers perform in and amongst the audience members. Each performance will adapt to the surroundings creating a distinct experience each time.

Choreographed by Manuela Benini, Ascension features Khavita Kaur and Kali Chandrasegaram, with music by Ash Madni, and lasts approximately 20 minutes.

The production will tour London, Cumbria and Manchester as part of a first look at a larger scale outdoor project that will eventually combine all nine of Navagraha’s planets and is planned to tour in 2016.

Performance details are below:

Sat 23 August, 1200, 1500 & 1730 (part of Watch This Space Festival)
St Johns Church Gardens, 73 Waterloo Rd, Southwark, SE1 8UD

Sat 30 August, 18:15 & 20:00 (part of Mintfest)
Abbot Hall Park, Kirkland, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 5AL

31 August, 13:30, 14:45 & 16:00 (Part of Mintfest)
Abbot HallPark, Kirkland, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 5AL


6 September (times TBC, part of Urban Moves International Dance Festival)
Cathedral Gardens, Corporation St, Manchester M4 3BG

All events are free with no tickets needed.