Sonia Sabri Company (SSCo) was formed with the desire to present the North Indian classical dance style of Kathak in a new light. Through integrating contemporary inventions and ideas into productions, the Company's work is exciting and relevant to audiences of all ages, experiences and cultural backgrounds. The Company is committed to presenting the work with live music wherever possible.
SSCo presents Kathak in new spaces and contexts, and to new audiences, developing a distinctive, contemporary style which speaks to the here and now.
These approaches form the three main strands of the Company’s work, and exist side by side in a mutually enriching relationship of tradition and classicism to innovation.
These approaches form the three main strands of the Company’s work, and exist side by side in a mutually enriching relationship of tradition and classicism to innovation.
“The music and dance was superb, but in addition, Sonia’s rapport with the audience and ability to explain the performance and teach the audience about Kathak was exceptional.” Promoter, Assembly Rooms, Stroud
The Company believes in raising the profile of Kathak by presenting classical Kathak in new spaces and contexts, enabling audiences of various social and cultural backgrounds to experience the dance through accessible performance, education and outreach.
Sonia Sabri Company explores and brings to the fore aspects of classical Kathak which are less well known, exploring the Sufi and Persian flavours within the dance and performing with original and rare compositions of Indian classical music.
“In the right hands, Kathak can even be funky” Birmingham Post
Sonia Sabri Company seeks fresh new ways of presenting Kathak by challenging and reinventing the form, developing a distinctive, fresh style, informed by contemporary experience and diverse inspirations.
SSCo believes Kathak is a living artform which can be reinvented and developed, like a language to say new things and engage with the novel issues. While retaining the essential purity and integrity of the style, current inventions and ideas are introduced through dialogue rather than a fusion with other disciplines, therefore enhancing its dance vocabulary and capacity for physical and emotional expression. This results in a fresh, funky and acclaimed style that is accessible to modern, and contemporary dance audiences.
The Company also revisits traditional features as live music positioned within a contemporary context, collaborating across musical traditions and developing physical as well as rhythmical interactions between musicians and dancers on stage.
“Fantastic. I was sitting here having a cup of coffee without knowing anything about it. I wouldn’t have gone to a show, but I loved this.” An audience member
Continuing with the quest of reinvention, Sonia has developed a unique and distinct personal style: ‘Urban Kathak.’ This takes its inspiration and influence from people living in modern cities. Everything from the ‘whacky’ ways of young people to the pre-occupied behaviour of the average office goer feeds into this growing vocabulary, creating work which is edgy, familiar and unpredictable. This work is also highly accessible for young and new audiences.
