A talk exploring the first Indian temple dancers who arrived in London in 1838, the spaces they performed in, and their overlooked histories.
In 1838, a group of Indian temple dancers arrived in London, alighting at London Bridge. Their visit marked one of the earliest recorded appearances of Indian dancers performing in Britain. Yet their stories have largely faded from public memory.
This talk explores the lives, journeys and performances of these dancers, tracing how they navigated Victorian London and how their art was received by local audiences. Drawing on archival research, historical records and visual materials, the talk examines the cultural exchange that took place when South Asian performance traditions first appeared on London stages.
There will time for a short discussion after, and an opportunity to partake in some dance movements!
Research and presentation by Ranjini Nair , hosted by Siobhan Davies Studios.
In the Research Studio
Tickets
Pay what you choose
£3 / £5 / £7
Free tickets for Support Workers, Carers and PAs
You can book in advance, or come on the day. Tickets will be available on the door.
Ranjini Nair
Ranjini Nair completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge, where her research focused on Indian dance and its replication of socio-religious hierarchies. She continues to teach part-time at the university, writes on dance and performance, and is building her dance and teaching practice delivering workshops and guest lectures.
Outside of dance she works in public engagement for museums.
ACCESS AND AMENITIES AT SDS
Siobhan Davies Studios is mostly accessible, with lifts to all floors. There are two accessible parking spaces available on site which can be booked in advance. Blue Badge parking is also available nearby on West Square and Garden Row (for a full map visit the Southwark Council website). Our main door is power assisted.
Amenities include:
- Changing facilities*
- Communal showers*
- Toilets / wheelchair accessible toilets
- Kitchen: tea and coffee making, fridge, and microwave
- Snack Bar: We have a small selection of bars, drinks and food available to buy from the front desk.
- Shops: The closest shop is Superway Supermarket on Garden Row (4 min walk), the closest supermarket is Sainsbury’s on New Kent Road (7 min walk). We also recommend the Art Cafe which serves sandwiches, jacket potatoes and meals (3 min walk).
* Our changing facilities and showers are not fully accessible. Our closest publicly available and fully accessible changing facility is at The Castle Centre, a leisure centre 0.3 miles away from the studios. You can find full details of their features here.