After an extraordinary 10 years, An Indian Summer‘s festival extravaganza returns to Curve and Orton Square! Expect an eclectic showcase of outdoor music and dance – from classical and contemporary to Bollywood, hip-hop and jazz.

Our myriad of family friendly workshops will be open to all- including arts and craft, henna and saree dressing. Taste the four corners of South Asia with a range of food and drink vendors, and enjoy the summer vibe.

For knowledge seekers and cultural enthusiasts, there will be a range of talks and films exploring Sufi dance in Pakistan and the 50th anniversary of Asian Ugandan expulsion.

All activities are free, but tickets should be booked for selected events to guarantee your place.

The festival is produced by Inspirate and Curve, and supported by Arts Council EnglandHeritage Lottery FundLeicester City CouncilBID Leicester and the British Council.

 

RIDE INTO THE FESTIVAL!
As part of their support of An Indian Summer Festival Community Day, BID Leicester have funded 200 £5 credits* for visitors to use on the Santander Cycles around the city!

To claim your £5 credit, download the Ride On UK App and enter the code AIS22 at the checkout. Please note this promotion is only available for cycle hires on Saturday 20 August.

*£5 credits are subject to availability and offered on a first come, first served basis. Terms and conditions apply.

DROP-IN ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS

All drop-in workshops and activities are suitable for all ages, and can be enjoyed by everyone attending An Indian Summer Community Day for free.

Jamilla's Henna

12noon - 6pm | Green Room Café

Popular in Pakistan and India, Henna is an intricate and traditional form of South Asian body art. Visit our Green Room Café throughout the day for a free henna design from local artist, Jamilla’s Henna.

This activity is very popular, so arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Instagram: @Jamillashenna
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JamillasHenna

 

Saree Dress-up Demonstration

12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm and 5.30pm | South Mezzanine

Saree Expert Bhawna Bhawsar invites you to come and learn more about the history of the saree and how to wear it. Bhawna will show you how to drape your saree perfectly using an array of colourful fabrics.

Duration: 30 minutes

Saree Dress-up Drop-in

12 noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm | South Mezzanine

Now you know how to wear your saree, give it a go in these drop-in sessions hosted by our Saree Expert, Bhawna. This is also a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have about this traditional Asian attire.

Duration: 30 minutes

Curve Early Years

Sensory Storytelling with Chandni

12 noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm. 4pm and 5pm | Central Mezzanine

Get immersed in stories exploring smells and others senses in this sensory storytelling workshop led by our Creative Programmes Practitioner, Chandni Mistry.

Activity sheets will be available between scheduled workshops, which begin at the top of the hour between 12 noon – 6pm.

Duration: 30 minutes

Art with Sim

12 noon - 6pm | Central Mezzanine

Join Sim Mystry for environment-focused art and crafts, using upcycled and recycled materials.

From newspaper beads to bottle bangles and everything in between, there is an activity for everyone to enjoy.

 

Finding Home Exhibition

North Mezzanine

On our Mezzanine, you’ll find a number of exhibitions from local organisations and Curve Associate companies, featuring the real stories and words of those impacted by the Ugandan Asian exodus.

Come and explore Nupur Arts’ Gujarat to Golden Mile and Inspirate and An Indian Summer’s Where is Home? as part of our Community Day.

TICKETED EVENTS

BrownGirl via East Africa: A Discussion

1pm - 3pm | Rehearsal Room 2

A panel discussion on the Ugandan Exodus and South Asian women.

The Ugandan Exodus has a huge impact on the British South Asian community, but what about the voices of women and girls?

Join a fascinating and in-depth discussion about the legacy of migration and colonisation on South Asian women with three pioneering speakers; Rupal Rajani (BBC radio presenter and producer), Alia Pathan (Artist and Founder of The White Tiger Project) and Kesha Raithatha (Dance Artist and Choreographer for the Made at Curve production of Finding Home). 

Hosted and chaired by Seetal Kaur (Co-founder of FowardCulture and two-browngirls.com), there will be a chance to contribute to the discussion and meet other like-minded women after the event too.

Tickets required | Please reserve your free ticket(s) at the link below
Duration: 2 hours

On the Hour: Dance Kahanyan

5pm - 6pm | Rehearsal Room 2

Join us to celebrate an exciting international project that brings together two world-renowned choreographers and dancers, Wahab Shah and Bridget Fiske, exploring what dance means for people in urban and rural areas of Pakistan and the UK.

Expect live dance performances and short films made by young people in the UK and Pakistan, plus a documentary sharing the experiences of our artists in each other’s cities.

From self-taught breakdancers and Hip Hop archivers to community Flamenco dancers and Bharatanatyam teachers, from artists on the fringes to those in the mainstream, as well as young people and students creating futures, this project celebrates how people are dancing in their own unique ways, within their communities and within this moment in time.

Tickets required | Please reserve your free ticket(s) at the link below
Duration: 1 hour

Talvin Singh and Friends

7.45pm | Studio

A world-class performance by internationally acclaimed, Talvin Singh.

Percussionist, producer and composer, Talvin Singh, is renowned for creating the bridge between Indian and electronic music. Drawing Inspiration from the classical Indian arts, he has managed to sculpt a unique sonic landscape and taken the Tabla to the cutting edge with the most unimaginable creations.

Talvin will be joined by fellow classical musicians in an unmissable one-off performance.

Aakash Odedra Company will be presenting a short dance by AO2 before the show, showcasing Leicester’s next generation of classical and contemporary Indian dance.

OUTDOOR STAGE & STREET FOOD MARKET

Orton Square, outside Curve

Take a seat in the great outdoors for an array of music, dance and fantastic food!

Hosted by Shruti Chauhan, our Outdoor Stage will be packed with a variety of incredible acts. DJ Ninja Bob will also be on the decks throughout the afternoon!

We’ll also be joined by food vendors KayalHerb and Desi Streetfood, offering three glorious South Asian menus.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

12 noon Shruti Chauhan and DJ Ninja Bob
1pm Enter Edem - Giant Peacocks
1.30pm Nupur Arts Young Company - Classical Indian Dance
2.30pm Dhol Players and Band Baja - Music Walkabout
3pm Nupur Arts - Holi Celebration
3.30pm Enter Edem - Giant Peacocks
4pm Chitra - Classical Kuchipudi Dance
4.30pm Zfit - Interactive Bollywood Dance
5pm Dhol Players and Band Baja - Music Walkabout
5.30pm Enter Edem - Giant Peacocks
6pm Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band - Music Walkabout
6.30pm String Beats - Music
7pm Zfit - Interactive Bollywood Dance
7.30pm Chitra - Classical Kuchipudi Dance