Noted dancer and choreographer Menaka PP Bora, who is completing her PhD research on ‘Global Media and Communication’ from London University, and is also teaching Indian dance in Kingston University, London, has embarked on a project in 2008, of taking the traditional dance and culture of Assam to the heart of UK’s cultural landmarks. This project will create long term educational resources for future generations on the relationship between dance, literature, history and artifacts of South Asia in museums across the UK. It will encourage the younger generation to appreciate and learn Indian culture through museum collections.

Following up on the critical success of thematic Indian classical dance and workshops at the National Portrait Gallery (2003, 2004, 2006), Tate Modern (2005) in London, New Walk Museum (2002, 2003) in Leicester, National Museum (2004) in New Delhi, World Museum (2007) in Liverpool, dancer and scholar Menaka PP Bora introduces the Dance and Museum Project in 2008. This project is commissioned to develop an innovative lecture and dance series, linking ancient heritage and exhibitions with research and contemporary presentations of Indian dance and performances. It will combine site-specific live performances with lectures and workshops for adults, youth and families. In 2008, the project will encourage visitors to experience and participate in the South Asian collections/exhibitions of the museums and galleries through traditional dance, music, folklore, theatre and manuscript paintings of Assam.

The Museum Project of 2008 in UK embraces the following events:

The stories of the Ramayana through Indian dance at the World Museum, Liverpool on April 12, 2008, was an innovative productive production combining live Indian classical dance, with Javanese puppets and traditional artifacts. This was followed by workshops for children and adults at the museum.

Satriya Dance at the Hariman Museum, London on July 27, 2008. This event of Satriya dance performance and workshop for families was a part of the ongoing exhibition of traditional musical instruments – ‘Utsavam - Music from India’, sponsored by the Hariman Museum, London.

Experience Assam: Dance and Folklore at the Hariman Museum, London on September 28, 2008. The lecture performance will focus on the changing relationship between environment and traditional dances of rural Assam, and its impact on artistic communities through the screening of a documentary film, dialogues and performances for families and visitors visiting the museum.

Gender and Identity: An Indian Dance Portrayal at the prestigious National Portrait Gallery, London on October 23, 2008. Menaka will present a lecture performance highlighting the aesthetics of the ancient Indian dance - drama traditionally called Ankiya Bhaona from Assam, using traditional costumes, masks, manuscript paintings, film installation, dance and speech.

It may be worth mentioning that Menaka PP Bora is the exclusive Indian artiste to get an invitation to showcase her performance and lecture in world famous galleries like Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery of London.

During the last few years, Menaka PP Bora’s Dance and Education in Museums Project in the UK was a great success, with participants of mainly British and South Asian communities.

Last year, national award winning dancer - choreographer, Indira PP Bora and Menaka PP Bora enthralled UK audiences with the Satriya Dance Series, UK 2007. They showcased Satriya in mainstream venues of five main cities of UK i.e. London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leicester and Manchester through an exclusive series of live performances, lecture demonstrations and workshops. Their performances were very well appreciated by British and South Asian audiences and received wide international media coverage.

Prafulla Prasad Bora