Sangam Festival 2021
Featuring 100+ artists, 4 venues, 4 weekends, Sangam brings an eclectic range of music, dance, spoken word, comedy, classical and experimental performances.
February 20, 27, March 6, March 11-13, 2021.
Sangam at Dancehouse - Commisions
Two triple bill shows, each featuring 3 extraordinary performances including stellar international and local artists on 3 evenings. Both classical and contemporary South Asian dance will be seen at Dancehouse the premier space for contemporary dance in Australia. Not to be missed.
Sangam in Conversation - Panels
Marginality, Power and Representation
A partnership between Blakdance, Rinda Saranya and Sangam, the panel discussion will focus on the intersections of the rights of representation and power by marginal voices from 3 intersecting perspectives : First Nations artists in Australia, marginal artists in India and South Asian Australian artists who are minorities living on unceded land to explore how power is contested, how voices can be reimagined and bodies re-represented in different sites and lands.
Supported by Ausdance Vic, MAV and Dancehouse.
Panelists: Facilitated by Merindah Donnelly and Priya Srinivasan with Marilyn Miller, Yashoda Thakore, Brahma Prakash, Urmimala Sarkar, Carly Sheppard.
Sangam at Dancehouse - Commisions
Two triple bill shows, each featuring 3 extraordinary performances including stellar international and local artists on 3 evenings. Both classical and contemporary South Asian dance will be seen at Dancehouse the premier space for contemporary dance in Australia. Not to be missed.
Sangam at Dancehouse - Commisions
Two triple bill shows, each featuring 3 extraordinary performances including stellar international and local artists on 3 evenings. Both classical and contemporary South Asian dance will be seen at Dancehouse the premier space for contemporary dance in Australia. Not to be missed.
Sangam at Bunjil
Sangam at Bunjil Place features a triple bill of premieres. The first two acts are newly-composed, groundbreaking musical works by Hari Sivanesan and Uthra Vijay, written for a South Asian instrumental quartet and vocal choir respectively.
The third act is an exciting and unique new multi-artform performance called “The Flowering Tree”, directed by Hari Sivanesan and Priya Srinivasan in collaboration with nine emerging artists. In a screen adaptation of an Indian folktale, the tale offers a myriad of possibilities and metaphors that take on issues like climate change and violence against women through the mediums of spoken word, sound and movement.
The Flowering Tree is the culmination of “South Asian Arts Pathways”, a program for exceptional classically-trained emerging artists from Melbourne’s South East region to professionalise and develop new work. Over eight months, they have been mentored by renowned local and international artists including Shreya Devnath, Veena Basavarajaiah and Natesha Somasundaram.
Sold Out!
Sangam at Bunjil Program 2021
Sangam at Dandenong - Earth Matters Walking Experience
A triple bill Earth Matters walking tour is a site specific series of performances that “takeover” Dandenong Drum Theatre, Harmony Square and Walker Street Gallery. An audience member becomes part of a walking tour, stopping at each of the 3 sites for a unique participatory interactive experience.
Sangam at the Convent - Evening
Our day at Abbotsford Convent ends with an eclectic, evening of short spoken word, experimental music/dance, screen performances by 18 diverse South Asian artists who have been mentored online in 2020 through lockdown.
Dada Desi : combining the spirit of Dada and the connection to ‘desi’ (land in Hindi), the event combines comedy, stand-up, spoken word, film, classical and experimental music and dance in one line up Emceed by award-winning writer, comedian and performance-maker Vidya Rajan, and co-curated by Sunanda Sachatrakul, a Delhi-born, Bangkok-raised producer, comedian and writer who has produced festivals, concerts and films in New York and Los Angeles and more, before moving to Melbourne.
A show like no other, not to be missed.
Sangam at the Convent - Panel
Self-determination, cultural agency and power: the changing dynamics of art made with community.
These are not new concepts, but across the arts, are these ideas being enacted in ways that deliver tangible outcomes for diverse creatives? Join our panel of experts to explore how we move from rhetoric to practice, what needs to change in order to demonstrate impact, and where we find ourselves on this journey. The panel will explore these issues from a number of perspectives; from cultural leadership, the international evidence for change, the role of allies and organisations, and importantly, how we evolve models of resourcing that underpin our collective ambition for change.
Panelists: Chris Sohn, Geskeva Komba, Liss Gabb, Sonya Suares, Jamie Lewis and Priya Srinivasan
Facilitator: Veronica Pardo
Sangam at the Convent - Afternoon
An exciting day to remember in the City of Yarra at Abbotsford Convent featuring a range of interdisciplinary artists across 3 events.
Sangam at the Convent will entertain the whole family with free activities including energetic Punjabi Folk dance and music storytelling workshops; Bollywood dance workshops led by Jhoom Bollywood Dance Company; Mehendi for kids; South Indian filter coffee by OzKaapi; chaat and beverages by Sri Ananda Bhavan; and a whole lot of fun!
You’ll also be able to participate in the creation of a beautiful, large-scale Rangoli using an assortment of bright rice, lentils, and more.