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
More News From Amber Valley Info
| Derbyshire firefighting equipment gets a new lease of life Former firefighting equipment from Derbyshire is continuing to make a difference at home and abroad, raising more than £4 read more | |
| 22,000 more properties to join Amber Valley food waste collections The second phase of weekly collections begins on 30 November, following higher-than-expected participation in the read more | |
| Images released after Ripley robbery Derbyshire Police have released images of three people they'd like to speak to about a robbery in Ripley. The incident happened at around 3:40am read more | |
| Independent property brand Cope&Co celebrates exciting chapter with new Alfreton shop Derby's biggest independent property brand, Cope&Co, has opened another branch of its estate ag read more | |
| Free Business Crime Partnership Launched to Help Protect Derbyshire Businesses Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts has announced the launch of a new countywide bus read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Pottery Close Halloween Event Taking a Break This Year The popular Halloween event at Pottery Close will not take place this year, as the organisers have not had enough time to prep read more | |
| Food waste recycling is coming to Amber Valley From June 2026, Amber Valley Borough Council will introduce weekly food waste recycling across the borough as part of a phased roll-ou read more | |
| Stallholder Bookings Now Open For The Tansley Big Day Out We're excited to announce that Tansley's Big Day Out 2026 will take place on 6th & 7th June 2026! read more | |
| Christmas and New Year bin collection dates Over the festive season, bin collections will operate on revised schedules. Some collections may take place up to two days earlier than u read more | |
| Launch Of WOMBLE MANIA! At the Heights of Abraham, Opened by Marcus Robertson, Son of Wombles author, Elisabeth Beresford, officially launched WOMBLE MANIA! at the Heights of Abraha read more | |
