The South Asian Dance Academy programme engages local people across school and community settings and educates them as to the meaning and purpose of Kathak storytelling through workshops activities. It is a dance programme where a number of professional dancers across Northern Ireland come to learn Kathak dance from professional trainers from Foundation for Indian Performing Arts in London. These newly trained dancers then in turn go on to faciliate a number of Kathak workshops and cultural programmes across Northern Ireland. 

The South Asian Dance Academy Project is part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), an organisation which awards grants to sustain and transform our hertigage. From museums, parks and historic places to archaelogy, natural environment and cultural traditions, HLF invests in every part of our diverse heritage. The organistion helps to protect, conserve and pass on to future generations the heritage we value, opening up more of our heritage for everyone to enjoy, and regenerating and enriching our historic cities, towns and countryside.

HLF is committed to providing opportunities to learn about heritage. Paul Mullan, Head of HLF Northern Ireland commented that 'The South Asian Dance Academy project provided a unique insight into this centuries-old hertigae, creating opportunities for local people to learn about its history and take part in workshops and performances. The project has raised awareness of our diverse multi-cultural society, helping to create a better understanding of our past and its role in shaping who we are today' 

The South Asian Dance Academy hopes to continue to deliver workshops, performances, classes and training to people across Northern Ireland, bringing elements of South Asian heritage to a wider audience. The project will go on to examine the storytelling aspect of Indian dance and how the stories and movement can be used as tools to help people learn aobut heritage and history. These stories are also a means to tackle issues around ethnicity and belonging within the communities across Northern Ireland. 

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