Samaagam in Perth

To celebrate Perth’s 800th year, Horsecross Arts is spending 2010 bringing together international artists with people from across Perth and Kinross to inspire and create, resulting in three community festivals.

Samaagam was the first such event: an inspirational partnership project between Horsecross Arts, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Dance Ihayami and school and community groups from across Perthshire.

Over the course of seven weeks, pupils from St John’s Academy and Our Lady’s Primary, alongside adults from various communities of Perth and Kinross, took part in Indian music and dance workshops to recreate some of the music from the piece Samaagam written by David Murphy, Amjad Ali Khan and the SCO Lab players.

The SCO Lab musicians led weekly workshops with each of the groups, teaching the melodies and rhythms based on the music in Samaagam. Pupils were encouraged to learn music by ear rather than through written notation, and although this was challenging for many of the participants they all rose to the challenge and performed perfectly on the night.

Dance participants had to learn brand new techniques before they could begin to work on the actual choreography that was performed on 10 March. The style of dance is very different to any other form of western dance – strong, crisp, forceful movements with flat, stamping feet and unnatural hand positions. They all worked incredibly hard to create some exhilarating dances.

Over 100 people were involved in the project, and the final performance was a great success. A documentary was shown, then the groups performed magnificently. After their part was over they remained in the hall to watch Dance Ihayami, Amjad Ali Khan and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra perform.

After the performance participants were all presented with concert programmes and certificates to recognise their achievement by taking part in this project.

This project has been supported by the Scottish Arts Council Inspiring Communities fund

Title image photographer: Alan Peebles