South Asian Heritage Month 2024 -Swarni Arts

SSGD Europe was created to teach authentic Indian folk dance, Garba, in a structured way via classes and workshops, to people of all backgrounds and dance abilities. Consisting of claps, clicks, bends and spins, this folk dance from Gujarat is a dance of celebration, usually performed during the Hindu festival of Navratri. As the official representative of the Sonis school of Garba Dance (SSGD) in Europe, Swarni arts has created @ssgdeurope to bring this form of dance to a more diverse audience.

Our classes in Leicester are taught at the Avanti Fields School in Hamilton by our local tutors Urvi Modha and Devica Jamnadas with support from Tejal Khamar and Sharena Khan. We provide weekly classes, workshops and masterclasses throughout the year, with our aim to make Garba a dance that is enjoyed throughout the year and not just during festival time. We also provide opportunities for the community to perform at local events to showcase what they have learnt.

We work closely with Jigar and Suhrad Soni, who are now, as well as the co-founders of the world's largest authentic Garba School; producers, choreographers and performing artists, representing folk dance worldwide. Certified by UNESCO, they are affiliated to the International Dance Council, which has enabled them to not only produce a certified syllabus for their Garba School but also present both dance and seminars at industry and private organisations.

Identity: Who are you, and what makes you unique?

Having been trained by the founder Jigar Soni, we as a team have had the privilege of experiencing first hand, the passion that the school brings to each and every student. Passionate about Garba, we want to re-energise Indian folk dance to not only preserve traditions for the next generation but to educate a wider audience by showcasing the beauty and energy of Raas Garba as a dance form.

One of our biggest moments of pride was when the House of Commons awarded Jigar and Suhrad for their significant contributions towards promoting Indian culture globally. Through Garba, we have had the opportunity to reconnect to our roots and share traditions and culture that have been taught to people for generations.

Community: How do we support and uplift each other?

Our community based classes have brought together people of many different backgrounds. Ranging from ages 5 to 80 we have had the opportunity to teach multiple generations of the same families. The dance form provides fitness, but also a way for parents to teach their children about their culture. Not wanting to limit the dance to Gujrati's, we have been excited to have a variety of people from different parts of India as well as British born South Asians, bringing together the South Asian community from different parts of the city.

South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) first took place in 2020 and runs from the 18th of July to the 17th of August each year. SAHM seeks to commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories, and communities. The month seeks to understand the diverse heritage and cultures that continue to link the UK with South Asia. For more information please visit: https://southasianheritage.org.uk/about-the-south-asian-heritage-month/ Here you will find a wealth of information and resources about SAHM and how you can get involved celebrating the amazing communities and people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland who are of South Asian Heritage.