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cover art for If you can breathe, you can dance with Shyam Dattani

Who Gets to Dance?

If you can breathe, you can dance with Shyam Dattani

Ep. 1

In this episode, Sonia Sabri MBE sits down with Kathak artist, Shyam Dattani to discuss his personal journey into Kathak, the challenges and joys of navigating the dance world, and his experiences as a gay artist within traditionally structured spaces. Together, they explore questions of visibility, acceptance, culture, and what it truly means to belong in the arts.


00:04 - Intro

00:43 - Shyam Dattani

02:26 - Ice breakers

04:27 - Shyam's Kathak journey

11:02 - Support from family

16:12 - Barriers of dance

20:59 - Being gay in the Kathak world

29:55 - Liberation

37:54 - Pathways into dance

39:37 - Inclusivity and accessibility in the dance industry

44:38 - How has Kathak helped with wellbeing

49:04 - Garbh


Send love to Shyam Dattani:

Instagram - @shyamdattanii

Garbh - https://withoutwalls.uk.com/programme/garbh-2/


Sonia Sabri Company:

Website: ssco.org.uk

Instagram: @soniasabrico

Facebook: Sonia Sabri Company

YouTube: Sonia Sabri Company

TikTok: @soniasabrico


Sonia Sabri MBE:

Instagram: @sonia_sabri_mbe_global