By Sanjeevini Dutta
Image: Simon Richardson
As part of the Southbank Centre’s vibrant South Asian Sounds Festival, the Sujata Banerjee Dance Company joins forces with Geetanjali Fine Arts Academy to present Hemantika and Beyond—a performance bursting with rhythm, movement and, yes… sound.
But wait—dance in a Sounds festival? It’s a fair question. Sujata Banerjee, the company’s director, offers a beautifully poetic answer:
“We create the sound—and what lingers is its resonance. You can’t hold it in your hands, but you carry it within you. It moves you.”
And move you it will.
On Sunday 5 July, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall will come alive as 75 dancers, spanning generations and stages of experience, take to the stage alongside 50 vocalists from Geetanjali Academy of Fine Arts. Expect the air to pulse with tatkar—the intricate, rhythmic footwork that lies at the heart of kathak. With such a powerful ensemble of dancers and a rich chorus of voices behind them, the energy promises to be electric.
Over the past three decades, Banerjee has nurtured her dance school into a thriving community of more than 140 students across four London locations. Kathak itself is enjoying a remarkable rise in popularity across the UK. Trailblazers like Akram Khan have brought the form into the mainstream spotlight, while artists such as Aakash Odedra, Sonia Sabri, and Urja Desai Thakore continue to push its boundaries—through solos, ensembles, and bold new collaborations. Together, as with SBDC creating inspirational stories about themes important to people today, they’ve all helped build a growing audience and deep appreciation for this classical art form.
Of course, a production of this scale doesn’t come without its challenges. Banerjee admits that envisioning—and delivering—every detail has been no small feat. Coordinating schedules, securing a venue large enough for such a cast, and organising up to a hundred costumes crafted in India and transported to London might overwhelm most. But not Banerjee—she thrives on the challenge.
At the heart of it all is her role as guru. This production offers her students a rare and invaluable chance to shine on an iconic stage—and to grow.
“Dancers only truly develop when they step outside their comfort zone,” she says.
It’s also a joyful coming-together: dancers from different classes, ages, backgrounds and life stages sharing one space, one stage, one experience. Moreover, Sujata Banerjee herself will make a rare appearance to the delight of her students and her admirers, demonstrating that the dance form will meet you at every stage of life.
And what does Banerjee hope audiences will take away? A powerful but simple truth: to perform, we must first learn. Passion is vital, but it’s the discipline of learning—of understanding the craft—that gives strength, direction, and depth.
If you’re lucky enough to be in the audience, expect to leave with that very resonance humming inside you—perhaps even inspiring you to explore more of the rich world of South Asian arts.
