Celebrate the beginning of Spring with a colourful Holi celebration concert with world renowned tabla player Pandit Sanju ‘Vishnu’ Sahai. This Hindu festival recognises the triumph of good over evil and Sampad South Asian Arts and Heritage and B:Music will be throwing their own Holi celebration, with music, dancing and fun!
Sanju will be joined by an ensemble and kathak dance from Jaymini Sahai. Main image by Simon Richardson
Sanju Sahai – Tabla
Sanju Sahai is currently one of the finest Tabla artists and well known for mesmerizing and captivating his audience with his virtuosity and complete spontaneity.
He performs all over the UK, India, Europe, Middle East, USA, Australasia and the far East and has accompanied many of India’s legendary musicians and dancers. He has been touring with Anoushka Shankar performing to music written by Pandit Ravi Shankar Ji and Philip Glass and also for the silent film score Shiraz composed by Anoushka Shankar.
Sanju has has performed at the prestigious BBC Proms on three separate occasions accompanying Pandit Rajan Sajan Misra Ji, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Saheb and Anoushka Shankar.
Residing in the UK for over three decades, Sanju continues to teach and inspire Tabla lovers and musicians.
Jaymini Sahai – Kathak dance
Jaymini Sahai is a Kathak artist based in the UK. Beginning her Kathak training in the UK in 1983 under the guidance of Nilima Devi Ji, Jaymini gained her diploma in Kathak in 1995 and now regularly conducts school and community related dance work. She has taken further training in Kathak with Padamshree Guru Pratap Pawar Ji and most recently is under the guidance of the beautifully graceful Vidushi Mamta Maharaj Ji, daughter of none other than the world renowned Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji. Jaymini set up Aradhana Arts in 2010 which aims to preserve the traditions of Kathak dance in the UK.
Kirpal Singh Panesar – Tar-Shehnai
Kirpal Singh Panesar is one of the brightest talents to have emerged in the UK and is regarded amongst the leading Tar-Shehnai and Dilruba performers of today. Kirpal began his learning with Ustad Surjeet Singh (disciple of Pt Ram Narayan) in 1994. He also receives tutelage from Ustad Gurdev Singh Ji (disciple of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan). Kirpal has been performing since a young age at prestigious venues in the UK and around the world. As well as being a performing artist, Kirpal dedicates his time teaching students of all levels and age groups.
Tofail Ahmed – Vocal and harmonium
Tofail Ahmed is a passionate musician trained in classical and light classical music. He was in Delhi for several years as an ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) scholar and received his higher training there with some legendary maestros such as Pt Birju Maharaj and accompanied him and his disciples on many occasions. That opportunity opened his world of music. He sings in various languages including Bengali, Sanskrit, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Braj Bhasha (the main language of North Indian classical music) and Gujrati.
Explore the rest of the series!
17th Feb PAST EVENT – Midday Mantra: Indian Classical
11th May – Midday Mantra: Song and Spoken Word
20th July – Midday Mantra: Sampad Summer Party
14th September – Midday Mantra: Bollywood Special
Event Muiltbuy Offer: 2+ Events = 10% Discount, 4+ Events = 15% Discount, 6 Events = 20% Discount
