“…it was impossible not to gaze in wonder and adoration…an uplifting crescendo of music and dance” (Dance Europe)
About
Kathakbox brings together Indian Kathak dance’s grace and vigour and the rhythms & rhymes of Hip Hop culture. Complex percussive patterns converse with beatbox and the verbal dexterity of Kathak rap (Kavitt) layers with urban poetry.
Kathakbox does not ‘box in’ these genres to a particular time or place, but discovers the raw spirit and heartbeat of each art form which reverberate between cultures. Reflecting the diverse, intersecting rhythms of the human experience, Kathakbox encourages us to ‘think outside the box’.
This bold, heart-pounding production features artistic director Sonia Sabri performing with an exceptionally talented team of dancers, spoken word, vocal and beatbox artists, including tabla maestro Sarvar Sabri, dynamic b-boy Nathan Geering, dancers Amayra Fuller and Suzanne Grubham, acclaimed vocalist & wordsmith Marcina Arnold and beatboxer Shan Bansil. Hip Hop guru Jonzi D & celebrated choreographer Richard Alston are the production’s artistic consultant
and dramaturgy by Steve Johnstone.
Speed, power, grace, rhyme and rhythm, this promises to be an unforgettable evening and artistic highlight of the year.
Kathakbox UK tour is supported by Arts Council, England. Kathakbox is a co-production with mac and has also been commissioned by The Place, PRS Foundation, The Drum and Birmingham City Council. International residency is presented in partnership with ADACH, Abu Dhabi, and the British Council.
Performers
 Sonia Sabri |
 Sarvar Sabri |
 Amayra Fuller |
 Nathan Geering |
 Suzanne Grubham |
 Shan Bansil |
 Marcina Arnold |
Tour 2011
Tour 2011
Wednesday16th, Thursday 17th, Friday 18th February, 8pm
mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH
Sales & Information: 0121 446 3232
www.macarts.co.uk
Saturday 26th February
Abu Dhabi Theatre, (UAE)
(presented by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage and the British Council)
http://www.adach.ae
Monday 28th February
Ductac, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates (presented by the British Council)
www.ductac.org
Friday 4th March, 7.30pm
Talbot Theatre, Whitchurch Leisure Centre, Shropshire, SY13 2BY (presented by Dance Alive)
Box Office: 01948 660 660
www.artsalive.co.uk
Wednesday 9th March, 1.30 pm (matinee) & 7.30pm
The egg, Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose, Bath, BA1 1ET
Box Office: 01225 823409
www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Friday 11th March
Tanzhaus nrw, Erkrather Str. 30, D-40233 Düsseldorf, Germany
Box Office: +49 (0)211 17270-0
http://www.tanzhaus-nrw.de
Thursday 31st March, 8.00pm
Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove
B60 1AX
Box Office: 01527 577330
www.artrix.co.uk
Saturday 2nd April, 8pm
Déda, Chapel Street, Derby
DE1 3GU
Box Office: 01332 370911
www.deda.uk.com
Friday 7th May, 8pm
The Place, 17 Dukes Road,
London, WC1H 9PY
(part of the Spring Loaded season)
Box Office: 020 7121 1100
www.theplace.org.uk
mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH
Sales & Information: 0121 446 3232
www.macarts.co.uk
Saturday 26th February
Abu Dhabi Theatre, (UAE)
(presented by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage and the British Council)
http://www.adach.ae
Monday 28th February
Ductac, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates (presented by the British Council)
www.ductac.org
Friday 4th March, 7.30pm
Talbot Theatre, Whitchurch Leisure Centre, Shropshire, SY13 2BY (presented by Dance Alive)
Box Office: 01948 660 660
www.artsalive.co.uk
Wednesday 9th March, 1.30 pm (matinee) & 7.30pm
The egg, Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose, Bath, BA1 1ET
Box Office: 01225 823409
www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Friday 11th March
Tanzhaus nrw, Erkrather Str. 30, D-40233 Düsseldorf, Germany
Box Office: +49 (0)211 17270-0
http://www.tanzhaus-nrw.de
Thursday 31st March, 8.00pm
Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove
B60 1AX
Box Office: 01527 577330
www.artrix.co.uk
Saturday 2nd April, 8pm
Déda, Chapel Street, Derby
DE1 3GU
Box Office: 01332 370911
www.deda.uk.com
Friday 7th May, 8pm
The Place, 17 Dukes Road,
London, WC1H 9PY
(part of the Spring Loaded season)
Box Office: 020 7121 1100
www.theplace.org.uk
Wednesday 21st September 7.30pm
Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1SE
Box Office: 01902 321321
www.arena.wlv.ac.uk
Friday 23rd September
Macrobert.
University of Stirling,
Stirling FK9 4LA
Telephone: 01786 466666
www.macrobert.org
Moday 24th October
Tobacco Factory Theatre
(in partnership with Asian Arts Agency)
Raleigh Road, Southville, Bristol, BS3 1TF
Box Office: 0117 9020344
www.tobaccofactorytheatre.com
Wednesday 26th October
University of Surrey
Guildford, GU2 7XH
Box Office: 01483 686876 www.surrey.ac.uk
Friday 28th October
Barbican Theatre
(in partnership with Asian Arts Agency)
Castle Street,
Plymouth, PL1 2NJ
Box Office: 01752 267131
www.barbicantheatre.co.uk
Saturday 12th November
Contact Theatre
Oxford Road,
Manchester, M15 6JA
Box Office: 0161 274 0600
www.contactmcr.com
Saturday 26th November
Dance City
(in partnership with GEM Arts)
Temple Street,
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4BR
Telephone: 0191 261 0505
www.dancecity.co.uk
Wednesday 30th November
Salisbury Arts Centre
Bedwin Street,
Salisbury, SP1 3UT
Box office: 01722 321744
www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk
Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1SE
Box Office: 01902 321321
www.arena.wlv.ac.uk
Friday 23rd September
Macrobert.
University of Stirling,
Stirling FK9 4LA
Telephone: 01786 466666
www.macrobert.org
Moday 24th October
Tobacco Factory Theatre
(in partnership with Asian Arts Agency)
Raleigh Road, Southville, Bristol, BS3 1TF
Box Office: 0117 9020344
www.tobaccofactorytheatre.com
Wednesday 26th October
University of Surrey
Guildford, GU2 7XH
Box Office: 01483 686876 www.surrey.ac.uk
Friday 28th October
Barbican Theatre
(in partnership with Asian Arts Agency)
Castle Street,
Plymouth, PL1 2NJ
Box Office: 01752 267131
www.barbicantheatre.co.uk
Saturday 12th November
Contact Theatre
Oxford Road,
Manchester, M15 6JA
Box Office: 0161 274 0600
www.contactmcr.com
Saturday 26th November
Dance City
(in partnership with GEM Arts)
Temple Street,
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4BR
Telephone: 0191 261 0505
www.dancecity.co.uk
Wednesday 30th November
Salisbury Arts Centre
Bedwin Street,
Salisbury, SP1 3UT
Box office: 01722 321744
www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk
Tuesday 10th May
Zakharef in Motion
Amman, Jordan
Friday 13th May, 8pm
Sparc, Brampton Road, Bishops Castle, SY9 5AY (presented by Dance Alive)
Box Office: 01588 630 243
www.artsalive.co.uk
Tuesday 21st June, 7.30pm
Corsham Festival at The Pound Arts Centre, Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9HX
Box Office: 01249 701628
www.poundarts.blogspot.com
Wednesday 22nd June, 7.30pm
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Westborough, Scarborough
YO11 1JW
Box Office: 01723 370541
www.sjt.uk.com
Thursday 30th June, 7.30pm
The Courtyard, Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 9JR
Box Office: 01432 340555
www.courtyard.org.uk
Monday 4th July, 7.30pm
The New Vic Theatre,
Newcastle-under-Lyme,
Staffordshire ST5 0JG
Box Office: 01782 717962
www.newvictheatre.org.uk
Saturday 9th July, 7.30pm
Brewery Arts Centre
Highgate, Kendal
Cumbria LA9 4HE
(in partnership with GEM Arts)
Box Office: 01539 725 133
www.breweryarts.co.uk
Thursday 25th August
Flota
Slovenia
Friday 16th September 7.45pm
The Public
New Street
West Bromwich B70 7PG
0121 533 7161
www.thepublic.com
Tuesday 20th September, 7.30pm
Harrow Arts Centre
Uxbridge Road, Hatch End
Middlesex HA5 4EA
Box Office 020 8416 8989
www.harrowarts.com
Zakharef in Motion
Amman, Jordan
Friday 13th May, 8pm
Sparc, Brampton Road, Bishops Castle, SY9 5AY (presented by Dance Alive)
Box Office: 01588 630 243
www.artsalive.co.uk
Tuesday 21st June, 7.30pm
Corsham Festival at The Pound Arts Centre, Pound Pill, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9HX
Box Office: 01249 701628
www.poundarts.blogspot.com
Wednesday 22nd June, 7.30pm
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Westborough, Scarborough
YO11 1JW
Box Office: 01723 370541
www.sjt.uk.com
Thursday 30th June, 7.30pm
The Courtyard, Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 9JR
Box Office: 01432 340555
www.courtyard.org.uk
Monday 4th July, 7.30pm
The New Vic Theatre,
Newcastle-under-Lyme,
Staffordshire ST5 0JG
Box Office: 01782 717962
www.newvictheatre.org.uk
Saturday 9th July, 7.30pm
Brewery Arts Centre
Highgate, Kendal
Cumbria LA9 4HE
(in partnership with GEM Arts)
Box Office: 01539 725 133
www.breweryarts.co.uk
Thursday 25th August
Flota
Slovenia
Friday 16th September 7.45pm
The Public
New Street
West Bromwich B70 7PG
0121 533 7161
www.thepublic.com
Tuesday 20th September, 7.30pm
Harrow Arts Centre
Uxbridge Road, Hatch End
Middlesex HA5 4EA
Box Office 020 8416 8989
www.harrowarts.com
Tour 2012
Tour 2012
Thursday 1st March at 8pm
Pegasus Theatre, Magdalen Road,
Oxford, OX4 1RE
Box Office: 01865 812 150
www.pegasustheatre.org.uk
Saturday 9th June at 7pm
Special double-bill featuring Kathakbox and classical Kathak production Ekalya
Kala Sangam, St Peters House,
1 Forster Square, Bradford, BD1 4TY
Box Office: 01274 303340
www.kalasangam.org/
Pegasus Theatre, Magdalen Road,
Oxford, OX4 1RE
Box Office: 01865 812 150
www.pegasustheatre.org.uk
Saturday 9th June at 7pm
Special double-bill featuring Kathakbox and classical Kathak production Ekalya
Kala Sangam, St Peters House,
1 Forster Square, Bradford, BD1 4TY
Box Office: 01274 303340
www.kalasangam.org/
Tuesday 22nd May at 7.30pm
Solihull Arts Complex, Homer Road,
Solihull, B91 3RG
Presented in association with Sampad
Box Office: 0121 704 6962
www.solihullartscomplex.co.uk
Solihull Arts Complex, Homer Road,
Solihull, B91 3RG
Presented in association with Sampad
Box Office: 0121 704 6962
www.solihullartscomplex.co.uk
Monday 5th March at 7.30pm
South Hill Park, Ringmead, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7PA
Presented in association with Asian Arts Agency
Box Office: 01344 484 123
www.southhillpark.org.uk
South Hill Park, Ringmead, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7PA
Presented in association with Asian Arts Agency
Box Office: 01344 484 123
www.southhillpark.org.uk
Reviews
"Sabri devises a dialogue between forms that is at once familiar and new; and by introducing these forms to one another without allowing one to take over from the other, the piece makes a light and playful comment on cultural identity and difference. As Sabri's own final rap puts it: "You, me, him, her, we are what we are." Above all, Kathakbox looks like it's heaps of fun to perform. During the extended body percussion section, in which all seven performers slap arms, legs and torsos to produce a tub-thumping beat that gets the audience clapping and whooping along, they looked like they were enjoying themselves so much I felt like jumping up onstage to join them. Sabri herself is cute as a button and full of vibrant energy, and dancers Amayra Fuller, Suzanne Grubham and Nathan Fuller all easily engage the audience. A very complete piece, with dance, music, spoken word and set all working together to support the theme, Kathakbox is at the same time uplifting and highly enjoyable."
Lisa Smith, londondance.com. Full review here
“The rhythmical complexities combined with…traditional Indian singing would put many modern hip-hop artists to shame. Kathakbox used the idea of needing a racially aware society and made it its own. Sabri asked us to define our own identities regardless of race in what can solely be described as creative genius.”
Reddbrick. Full review here
It was an outstanding evening to say the least, Kathakbox performance had been an amazing mix of a variety of arts, cultures, dances. The event which took place at Abu Dhabi Theater on the 26th of February, is still in our minds!…What makes Kathakbox stands out from the crowd is that it moves you to another planet where no music instruments are used, its only the power of our human bodies. It layers complex Indian rhythms and tabla- vox with the verbal dexterity of multilingual poetry.” Abu Dhabi Zoom
“Amazing performance last night at Abu Dhabi, congratulations to all the artists, loved the ‘jugalbandi’ part.”
Lisa Smith, londondance.com. Full review here
“The rhythmical complexities combined with…traditional Indian singing would put many modern hip-hop artists to shame. Kathakbox used the idea of needing a racially aware society and made it its own. Sabri asked us to define our own identities regardless of race in what can solely be described as creative genius.”
Reddbrick. Full review here
It was an outstanding evening to say the least, Kathakbox performance had been an amazing mix of a variety of arts, cultures, dances. The event which took place at Abu Dhabi Theater on the 26th of February, is still in our minds!…What makes Kathakbox stands out from the crowd is that it moves you to another planet where no music instruments are used, its only the power of our human bodies. It layers complex Indian rhythms and tabla- vox with the verbal dexterity of multilingual poetry.” Abu Dhabi Zoom
“Amazing performance last night at Abu Dhabi, congratulations to all the artists, loved the ‘jugalbandi’ part.”
Audience members
“Inspiring show, cutting edge and brave. Some important commentary about multiculturalism and social cohesion as well. I particularly enjoyed the fusion of music, rhythmic words and dance and the clever merging of disparate dance-styles, that appeared to take every performer out of their “comfort zone” and challenged them to integrate their familiar style with other dance styles. A difficult project that was executed excellently, yet the performance remained entertaining an accessible. Loved it!”
“I was one of the lucky few to get a brief preview of the upcoming Kathakbox performances that will be taking place in the UAE this week…in brief, it’s an awesome modern artistic production, by Sonia Sabri and Company, that combines “movement, gesture, expression, music and the spoken word”… Very cool stuff if you ask me and much more than what I had expected.” Whose-sane, Abu Dhabi
“It was very interesting to see the similarities between the different dance styles, and how at the end they are able to express the same things, the show was like a Rosetta stone giving you the keys to understand each dance style. For me that I have never seen Kathak before it was a great way to get to know it, appreciate it and get curious to see and learn more about it.” Omar-paint, UAE
“basically acknowledging differences within our current British culture but emphasising the common human threads that fundamentally conjoin us”
“the whole performance was a collaboration…really clever and extraordinary. It was a really diverse show.”
“Different, fabulous!”
“One of the best dance companies I’ve seen.”
“Excellent. A breath of fresh air!”
“Innovative & inspiring.”
“The dancers were amazing! There was so much going on!”
“I was one of the lucky few to get a brief preview of the upcoming Kathakbox performances that will be taking place in the UAE this week…in brief, it’s an awesome modern artistic production, by Sonia Sabri and Company, that combines “movement, gesture, expression, music and the spoken word”… Very cool stuff if you ask me and much more than what I had expected.” Whose-sane, Abu Dhabi
“It was very interesting to see the similarities between the different dance styles, and how at the end they are able to express the same things, the show was like a Rosetta stone giving you the keys to understand each dance style. For me that I have never seen Kathak before it was a great way to get to know it, appreciate it and get curious to see and learn more about it.” Omar-paint, UAE
“basically acknowledging differences within our current British culture but emphasising the common human threads that fundamentally conjoin us”
“the whole performance was a collaboration…really clever and extraordinary. It was a really diverse show.”
“Different, fabulous!”
“One of the best dance companies I’ve seen.”
“Excellent. A breath of fresh air!”
“Innovative & inspiring.”
“The dancers were amazing! There was so much going on!”
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