The Muslim News Awards for Excellence

Sonia Sabri MBE, a Birmingham-based, internationally acclaimed Kathak dance artist and choreographer, has significantly advanced South Asian classical dance globally. In 2025, she was awarded an MBE for Services to Dance, becoming the first British-born Indian woman fully trained in Kathak in the UK to receive this recognition. Trained in classical Kathak and at LAMDA, she developed a distinctive style blending traditional technique with contemporary storytelling. Her performances span leading venues like the Royal Festival Hall and the Edinburgh Festival, and she was Associate Choreographer for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. Leading the Sonia Sabri Company as Artistic Director, her wider work includes a national Kathak-based literacy programme and global outreach initiatives, expanding access and representation in the arts.

Photo: Luke Taylor MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for London, presents the award to Sonia Sabri MBE.