Art Asia’s mission is to communicate the rich and exciting experience of South Asian Arts to the widest possible audience. Our work aspires to be entertaining, surprising and to celebrate our belief that the Arts of South Asia are universal in their appeal.

Experience the magic of South Asian arts in your school or venue: Art Asia’s experienced teachers will deliver lively workshops in music, dance and visual arts to motivate learners of all ages.

All our tutors are professional artists who regularly perform.  They have a wealth of knowledge of their art form and can tailor make their workshops to suit the needs of each school/venue. 

 ‘The work they did with the children was amazing and they all gained a great deal from it.  The energy and enthusiasm shown by the artists was clear to all and the teaching staff felt inspired by their work’. Sara Willoughby, Deputy Headteacher, Hook-with-Warsash Primary School

Here is a list of workshops we can offer:

Bollywood Dance

Suitable for all ages.

Fresh, funky and fast-paced, Bollywood Dance will keep you fit and keep you laughing! Make like a Mumbai star and give it a go.

The Bollywood dance style emerged from the Hindi film industry is a fusion of Indian folk and classical dance, as well as Arabic, Western and many other styles. Why not use a Bollywood Dance workshop to explore diversity or modern British Asian culture?

Bharata Natyam Dance (Classical dance from the South of India)

Suitable for all ages.

Tell a story without words – Bharata Natyam dancing is expressive, vibrant and involves lots of foot-stamping! Students will learn Bharata Natyam hand gestures and some of their Sanskrit names and meanings.

Bharata Natyam dancers use an alphabet of hand gestures, similar to sign language. Why not explore language and communication through a Bharata Natyam dance workshop?

Kathak Dance (Classical dance from the North of India)

Suitable for all ages.

Kathak is a classical dance originating from the North of India.  It involves lots of fast footwork and spins.  The name Kathak is from the Sanskrit word ‘katha’ meaning ‘story’.  Students will learn to tell a story through dance.

Tabla Drumming

Juniors and above.

Explore rhythm and counting and learn some fiery finger-work with our expert Tabla tutors.

Why not use a Tabla drumming workshop to explore the science behind sound?

Dhol Drumming

Juniors and above.

The Dhol drum is synonymous with Bhangra music which is very catchy and full of energy!  The Dhol produces a loud and vibrant sound and is played with sticks called a Dugga and a Thili.  The person who plays a Dhol drum is called a Dholi. 

Students will learn the history of the drum, how to play Indian rhythms and explore the different sounds that can be made using the Dhol.

Combined Music and Dance

Suitable for all ages.

Here, either the one group splits its time between both music and dance, or two groups work separately on each aspect and come together towards the end of the session. The groups can create music specifically for the dance sequences or vice versa or simply experience two different art forms in one workshop.  A great way to develop students understanding of the strong links between these two art forms.

Indian Classical Music (Lecture / Demonstration)

Year 7 and above.

Learn more about ragas (scales/melodies) and talas (rhythms) with Art Asia’s skilled musicians. Cover the structure and traditions of Indian Classical Music and learn about the importance of improvisation. Students can also explore creative and interactive Asian Fusion music.

Indian Classical Music pivots on the need to show respect to instruments, teachers, other performers and audiences. Why not use a music workshop to explore ‘Rights, Respect and Responsibility’?

Visual Arts

Suitable for all ages.

Discover the rich and diverse patterns of South Asia or learn about traditional craft techniques and materials used in the sub continent.  Workshops can be tailor made to suit your needs.

Learn what a Rangoli pattern is and why it is used.  Use your mathematical and artistic skills to create your own Rangoli pattern.

Ever heard of Mehndi?  Or henna?  Discover what the words mean and how you can create patterns that you can wear!

Key information

• Tailor made workshops for all ages and abilities
• Experienced professional artists
• Fun and hands on
• Short demonstration for whole school assemblies
• Tabla and Dhol drums provided
• Dance costumes provided for show
• Full, half day or series of workshops available
• Diwali workshops