Belper Audience Celebrates Stories of Diwali
A sell-out performance in Belper by Surtal Arts, which told the stories behind the festival of Diwali, has been applauded by guest of honour – the town’s Mayor.
Stories of Diwali: the Diwali experience was performed at Number 28 Community Centre in Belper as part of Surtal Arts’ Derby Season of Light festival.
Using beautiful Indian Classical dance, Bollywood dance and digital projection, professional dancer Nisha Nath brought Diwali to life on stage.
She took the audience on a journey through dance and movement - retelling the traditional mythological story of Rama and Sita using Kathak storytelling techniques, as well as exploring present day celebrations in Bollywood.
Everyone was then be invited to join a group Bollywood dance and try delicious Diwali appetisers to make the whole experience truly immersive.
Mayor of Belper Cllr John Porter said after the performance: "After nearly two years of Covid restrictions, we needed something like this to uplift us.
“It was wonderful to be enlightened and entertained by the Stories of Diwali which has truly been an evening of 'light over darkness'.
“I am glad Belper Town Council supported this event. It's great to have something new and diverse in the town."
Nisha Nath, chair of Surtal Arts and a celebrated South Asian dance artist, said: “Number 28 Community Centre is a unique and beautifully quirky venue which was perfect for an intimate performance of this nature.
“We are grateful to the venue and to Belper Town Council for their support to bring this performance to Belper and to the audience who immersed themselves wonderfully in the story, music, dance and projection.
“Derby Season of Light has been a resounding success across the city and county with a packed programme of arts activities, events and performances.
“Coming together to celebrate Stories of Diwali felt like the perfect way to celebrate this wonderful time of year and hopefully mark a point in time when we can start to put the worst of the pandemic behind us.
“We look forward to future festivals and projects and I hope that Belper can be central to these plans as we move forwards.”
Surtal Arts has developed Derby Season of Light in partnership with Derby Live, Derby Museums, Air Arts, Junction Arts and No 28 community centre in Belper. The festival is supported by Arts Council England, Derby City Council, Foundation Derbyshire, Community Action Derby, Belper Town Council and the National Lottery Community Fund.
For more information about future projects and performances, visit www.surtalarts.co.uk
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