It’s another busy season of dance for South Asian arts & heritage organisation Sampad, as director, Piali Ray recently told What’s On...

Sampad South Asian Arts & Heritage is promising a new season packed with opportunities for people to watch, engage with and take part in activities across the city. 

The organisation, which was founded in 1990 to foster and promote South Asian arts and heritage in Birmingham and the West Midlands, has announced a new programme featuring theatre, an interactive walk, music, dance and community engagement. 

It’s a busy season, says Sampad’s director, Piali Ray, but also one that’s emblematic of the work the organisation does: “When the story of Sampad started as a foundation arts development organisation, we were trying to raise awareness through doing arts activities. Now, the foundation of the organisation remains the same - we want to connect with people in the city, in the region, nationally and internationally wherever possible.  

“And we want to connect with people in different ways, whether they are artists or participants or our audiences - and particularly with specific groups who have specific needs, whether they are in a school environment or a community space. 

“That principle remains with the organisation, and the programme reflects that. We are really committed to ensuring that we give the best possible experience of South Asian arts to each and every person or group we are connecting with.” 

One season highlight is An Evening With Vidya Patel (Birmingham Rep, Saturday 21 November), in which the nationally renowned Birmingham-born performer will present a blend of conversation and dance. 

“Vidya is an amazing dancer,” says Piali. “She has worked with remarkable companies and choreographers across the country and Europe. It is essentially her evening, and it will be her journey back to Birmingham; that is what she will talk about and dance. 

“She has achieved what many South Asian dancers would aspire to, so as a role model, she is an inspiration. And she is also a beautiful Kathak dancer who has trained in other forms and worked with other choreographers. Here, she is coming back to her roots.” 

Another key event is Midday Mantra, a season of Saturday afternoon concerts taking place in Symphony Hall’s Jennifer Blackwell performance space.  

Featuring a host of different music traditions, from South Asian folk and jazz through to Indian classical and contemporary, the team are always willing to hear from new musicians who would like to perform at the event.  

“One of the things we are constantly looking out for is an exciting British Asian sound,” Piali says. “A new generation of artists are creating work that has a strong South Asian element alongside narratives of their life in the UK.   

“It is always exciting to look at the new British Asian sounds that are coming through, whether that’s intercultural or within particular genres of music.” 

The new season kicks off with Bedlam Arts & Mental Health Symposium, in which Sampad is a partner alongside Birmingham Rep and Midlands Arts Centre. This year’s get-together features a number of Sampad events, including Can We Talk?, Birmingham-based writer & actor Rochi Rampal’s new short play exploring artificial intelligence (MAC, Friday 6 & Saturday 7 November).  

Speaking about the production, Sampad’s programme manager, James Vegnuti, said: “Can We Talk? is very much a family story. Rochi has been workshopping it with lots of different people: head teachers, health-care professionals - and with 17-year-olds, the teenagers that the story is centred around.  

“The piece lasts about 35 minutes and will be followed by a conversation which we feel is really important. Our audiences usually love a bit of discussion and debate, and this will be a perfect opportunity for people to hear about things they have been reading a lot about.” 

Also in the festival is a chance to take part in a gentle movement workshop called Let’s Dance, while Sampad’s Stratford Road Walking Tour: Diwali Special (Saturday 7 November) opens the door into a host of diverse stories and experiences. 

“Our Stratford Road Walking Tour has been going on for about six years,” says James. “It’s one of our most recommended events in Birmingham. You learn about all kinds of migration stories and the importance of the Stratford Road.  

“For this time, our guide, Vimal Korpal, is working on some brand-new stories, including Diwali. It will be the day before Diwali - so expect the shops to be really busy, and there will be a real buzz down the high street. Vimal is able to get access inside Grade One listed churches, inside Hindu temples, Sikh Gurdwaras, Yemeni coffee shops, Gohil’s Emporium. Each one of these locations has a story, whether it be from the founder, from longstanding customers or from another member of the community who feels that the space is very important to them.” 

Another Sampad event is Chai And Chat: From Fast Fashion To Upcycling, a discussion with sustainable fashion entrepreneur Rukhsana Sardar which takes place at the National Trust’s Back to Backs on Thursday 12 November. 

“Rukhsana will be talking a bit about her story, as well as giving practical advice about upcycling,” says James. “And hopefully the discussion afterwards turns into a bit of a learning and shared experience for everyone. What’s really cool about this event is that there’s an actual call to action for people to bring along their own upcycling project.” 

The season’s finale, Asian Spring, takes place next year and is one of Sampad’s most popular events - as Piali explains: “People love it. As soon as the evening is finished, people start asking ‘so what’s the date for next year?’ 

“Asian Spring is a showcase of community South Asian dance in all its variety - classical, Bollywood, folk. We’ve even seen Bharatanatyam and Morris dancing together in the past! It’s a celebration of dance in the region, with a lot of teachers and groups profiling their work. At least 15 or 16 groups perform side by side. Each and every group puts immense effort into it, into creating the piece, the look, the costumes, the endless hours of practice. We really appreciate the amount of effort that goes in. 

“Some of the groups have been in it since the very first programme, and we are now in about the 25th or 26th version of it. And we are always on the look-out for new groups and artists, because that brings freshness to the stage.” 

In many ways, says Piali, Asian Spring is the epitome not just of Sampad’s 2026/27 season but of its entire philosophy: “We try to do the best for our artists, for our audiences and our communities. That is at the heart of Sampad. There are challenges, particularly as resources become more and more difficult to access, but we have brilliant partnerships, and we are grateful that we have such a thriving cultural scene in Birmingham so we can have those conversations.  

“We have a loyal audience of people who have known us for a long time and come back, but there are also people who do not know about Sampad. I would like to invite them to come and join us this season, in whatever way they want to.   

“Come and see our events, come and talk to us, and hopefully there will be something there for you - whether it’s through performance or workshops. Or if you are a young person who wants to share your talent, please come and work with us.” 

For more information on individual events, visit sampad.org.uk