About Akademi

Our mission

Our mission is to develop artists, inspire audiences and change lives by creating, commissioning and nurturing classical, contemporary, popular and participatory South Asian dance in the UK.

Our work

We are a dynamic and future facing organisation, dedicated to redefining the parameters of south Asian dance as an art form. Founded in 1979 by the legendary Tara Rajkumar and led by Artistic Director Subathra Subramaniam and Executive Director Kirsten Burrows,  we connect South Asian dance with the wider contemporary arts sector. We engage with social, political and cultural agendas to achieve real impact. We embrace the plurality of classical, contemporary and commercial South Asian dance styles. Rooted in our local community but active across the UK, we have a global perspective with worldwide connections. Our pioneering work contributes significantly to Britain’s international reputation for innovation in South Asian dance.

Our areas of work include: Performances, learning and participation outreach work, artist development programmes and bespoke curation for events.

Our Impact

Over the last 3 years: