Edinburgh Mela | 25-31 Aug 2008

Upping the ante this year, the Edinburgh Mela extends it’s annual run to take in a full week of festival frivoloties.

A multicultural festival, the Mela was founded in 1995 by members of the city’s Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian communities in order to reflect Edinburgh’s cultural diversity. Running from August 25 to 31, this years event has a fantastic programme lined up, which includes performers travelling from as far afield as Africa, South America and India.

Kick starting the festivities will be a Mela favourite, Sakhian – ladies only night – on 24 August, which for the first time will include a staged drama called ‘Sapano ki shaadi’ meaning ‘Dream Wedding’, as well as a disco and a performance by Bhangra singer, Des-C.

Weekend evening highlights include the Club Night with live DJs, internationally recognised producer Rishi Rich, along with artists Juggy D and Veronica, and the legendary Bhangra band DCS.

Film and theatre are two new elements for 2008. A series of films and documentaries will be shown at VUE Cinemas and theatre will include an entertaining yet insightful piece by Theatre Insaan – ‘Jihad: Inner Struggle’ described as ’Physically charged, high definition set pieces that play with scale and perspective’ by The Herald.

The dance and physical theatre continue the programme apace, with offerings from London-based Akademi who specialise in innovative, large-scale South Asian dance with the Scottish premiere of ‘Initium’ which uses dance, circus skills and folk theatre influences. Whilst the popular fashion show returns for this year, promising a catwalk of couture fashion presented in true bollywood style.

The week long festival concludes with a presentation of Mother India 21 century (MI21): a contemporary live re-scoring of the original Mother India, a tour-de force of Indian cinematic history, led by award winning turntablist DJ Tigerstyle.

Edinburgh Mela
25-31 Aug 2008

for more information see website
www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk

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Edinburgh Mela