A spectacular 'Independence Gala' brought together artists from India and the UK for a central performance here to mark the UK-India Year of Culture celebrations.
The gala, described as a "magical confluence" of dance and music from both the countries, covered a wide array of styles and genres around the theme of collaboration.
While Kathak dancers from the UK-based ANKH group coordinated their rhythm with the tap dance moves of Old Kent Road, the Avant Garde Dance Company's hip hop style meshed with classical Indian styles of Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam.
"This cultural extravaganza reflects the symbiosis between the cultures of India and the UK, which is set to be further enhanced," Indian high commissioner to the UK Y K Sinha said.
"The events under the UK India Year of Culture are indeed a unique opportunity to underline and renew the inextricable threads of our cultural heritage and to enhance our engagement at a people-to-people level," he said.
The gala at the Southbank Centre on the banks of the river Thames was directed by Sanjoy Roy of Teamwork Arts, bringing together dozens of artists, dancers and musicians from around the world.
"The gala unfolds as a tribute to two great traditions and culture. It celebrates art that brings us all together," explained Roy.
The event was headlined by soulful renditions from 'Junun', an album of Sufi qawwalis in Urdu and Hebrew, performed by the composers – acclaimed Israeli composer- musician Shye Ben Tzur, Radiohead guitarist and composer Jonny Greenwood and Indian band Rajasthan Express.
The jaw-dropping moves of members of the Odisha-based NGO Silpika Society of Culture performing the Gotipua, an ancient tribute to lord Krishna traditionally carried out by young boys dressed as women, moved the audience to audible gasps in the lead up to the finale when British Indian opera soprano Patricia Rozario coordinated her arias with the folk music of Punjab by Deepa Nair Rasiya and Rabindra sangeet by Sangeeta Datta.
