FABRIC and Sampad have been undertaking a review of the Yuva Gati programme, a national Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) for South Asian dance.

As part of our commitment to ensuring accessible and inclusive pathways into professional dance, we are now taking steps to evolve our partnership’s approach to better serve the needs of young people that have talent but not the financial means to access existing provision.

Our partnership will explore a new direction. Using our existing programmes, we intend to increase the number of grants offered in the Midlands. This will support the development of regional programmes and broaden the range of Indian dance forms represented — as part of our wider commitment to decolonising dance training.

Over the coming months, FABRIC will work with Sampad and other partners to explore new approaches and address key questions:

• What modular programmes could be implemented in the Midlands to support South Asian dance talent — both within CAT and beyond?
• How might we broaden the current focus from Kathak and Bharatanatyam to include a wider range of Indian dance forms through regular and intensive training?
• Given the vibrant community practice of South Asian and culturally diverse dance styles in the Midlands, how can realignment of grant provision to open-up greater opportunities for broader representation and participation in our weekly training programmes in Birmingham and Nottingham?