Performance by Khyal Arts
About the Creation
Khyal Arts brought a new community group together to create a performance for Haringey Feast called Haringey Harmony. The piece incorporated Indian classical dance, contemporary dance and spoken word.
This multi-layered project, which involved local people through workshops and rehearsals, was inspired by Haringey creatives from the past and present.
About the Artist
Khyal Arts is a local not-for-profit arts organisation with a vibrant programme of accessible cultural activity. Based on the rich, vibrant and colourful culture of North India, their unique classes fit within a bigger-picture vision of health, happiness and wellbeing. Khyal Arts is led by Vanessa Downie.
Vanessa Downie is a long-established dance practitioner trained in a range of forms including Indian dance and African-contemporary dance.
Throughout her career, she has performed with TEDx, UEFA Champions League, Bloomberg New Contemporaries at ICA and Cloud Dance Festival, among others.
Vanessa champions a community-oriented approach to dance; leading dance in an accessible and inclusive way that encourages creativity and expression with the attitude that everything is possible.
Her interest lies in physiological health and wellbeing, mindfulness and connection to self. Through Vanessa’s strong belief in the awakening potential for healing, through the power of creativity and movement, she liberates the power and creativity of her participants.
About the Community
Khyal arts welcomed local people through workshops across the borough to form a new community group for their performance, Haringey Harmony.