Centre for Indian Classical Dance

Karman: Centre for Indian Classical Dance

‘Karman’, is A Living Archive project exhibiting performances and personalities behind forty years of groundbreaking Indian classical dance in the East Midlands. It is funded by Heritage Lottery Fund.

‘Karman’ is not only designed for those interested in the history of Indian classical dance but also offers a rare insight for those wanting to learn more about the diverse arts and cultural heritages of the UK. It explores South Asian dance and arts in the UK over the last forty years and describes the related social changes, presenting a unique piece of history.

In 2011, the Centre for Indian Classical Dance (CICD, trained and worked with a team of twenty-five volunteer historians, between them recording over seventy hours of oral history interviews. This, accompanied by an impressive and comprehensive archive of leaflets, posters and newspaper cuttings held by CICD, has led to a fascinating touring exhibition and accompanying book called ‘Karman’.