📅 28–29 October 2026 (Wed & Thursday)
📍 Parkinson Court, University of Leeds

Experience Leeds in a New Light!
Every October, Light Night Leeds transforms the city into an extraordinary playground of light, art and performance, inviting thousands of visitors to discover familiar spaces in unexpected ways.

SAA-uk is delighted to once again be part of this city-wide celebration with Kala—an immersive performance that brings together South Asian performing arts, contemporary movement and creative technology.

Kala is an evocative exploration of cultural identity, memory and belonging. Blending classical Indian dance, contemporary choreography, interactive LED technology and an original live score, the performance invites audiences into a striking visual world where tradition and innovation exist side by side.

Inspired by research into 300 Years of South Asian History in Leeds, Kala reflects on migration, colonial histories and the resilience of South Asian communities. Through movement, light and sound, it explores how identity is continually shaped, transformed and carried across generations.

A HeadStart Project
Kala is the creative technology performance project of SAA-uk HeadStart trainee Orisa Pather, who is developing her practice as a creative director and project lead through this ambitious collaboration.

Working alongside a team of artists, technologists and musicians, Orisa has been leading the creative process—from developing the artistic vision and facilitating collaboration to shaping the performance experience.

As the project evolves, it continues to demonstrate the power of creative technology to tell meaningful cultural stories.

We look forward to sharing more about the creative journey, the artists and the ideas behind Kala in the lead-up to Light Night Leeds.

CREATIVE TEAM: Produced by SAA-uk

Creative Director & Project Lead
Orisa Pather (SAA-UK HeadStart Trainee)

Performers
- Meghna Lokabhirama
- Nandini Raju
- Akshay Sharma

Creative Technologists
- Cara Proud
- Emir Johnston (Technologica Collective)

Original Composition
- Meenakshi Malik
- Rohan Roy

Inspired by
- Jibaro by Alberto Mielgo

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN SAA-UK AND LIGHT NIGHT LEEDS