Around 60 people are chatting and laughing together in a community hall in Belgrave, Leicester. Then Bollywood music begins to play and everyone turns their focus to instructors Jayna Patel and Laura Bryan, who lead from the stage. With bodies swaying, arms fluttering, the group loosen up in readiness for an hour of joyful dancing rooted in storytelling.
For the project Mehek Live, local dance organisations Aakash Odedra Company and Moving Together are collaborating to run events with 450 older people from residential care homes, community groups and health settings. Workshops like this one give participants an opportunity to talk about their experiences of life and love, combining dance with personal stories. These will then influence Mehek, a new work by contemporary Kathak dancers Aakash Odedra and Aditi Mangaldas.
