Our guest today is the choreographer Sonia Sabri – dance changed her life, and now she uses it to change others. Sonia grew up in Wolverhampton, UK, in a traditional Indian family. Unusually her parents supported her dancing: her dad hoped she might conquer Bollywood, but instead, she devoted herself to kathak, which helped her withstand disapproval and bullying. Alongside her international career, her teaching reinforces the power of sharing dance – building not just steps, but self-belief. Our conversation touches on mental health and domestic abuse – Sonia has helped students change their lives in ways she would never have predicted.

Sonia Sabri MBE is a multi-award-winning dance artist, choreographer and movement director and Artistic Director of Sonia Sabri Company (SSC). One of the world’s leading Kathak dance artists, her work explores both the classical roots of Kathak and contemporary approaches, reflecting Western and Eastern cultures. In 2022, she was associate choreographer for Wondrous Stories, launching Birmingham Festival Commonwealth Games, and for the Opening Ceremony. SSC is an Associate Artist at Birmingham Hippodrome and Sonia is Creative Resident at Curve.

Sonia Sabri Company https://ssco.org.uk/

Why Dance Matters is a dance podcast featuring inspiring conversations with extraordinary people from the world of dance and beyond. Hosted by David Jays, editor of Dance Gazette, this podcast explores how dance shapes lives and why it matters to us all. Brought to you by the RAD, which inspires the world to dance, these insightful stories will surprise and delight. Tune in and discover more on our website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Mark Broomfield is a dance scholar and artist, and the author of Black Queer Dance: Gay Men and the Politics of Passing for Almost Straight. Born in London, he has spent much of his career in New York, currently as Associate Professor of English and the Founder and Director of Performance as Social Change at SUNY Geneseo. He says his work is about “moving minds, moving bodies and moving souls” to advance transformational social change. We’ll ask about bodies, identity and change.

Dr. Mark Broomfield is Associate Professor of English, Founder and Director of Performance as Social Change™ at SUNY Geneseo. The award-winning, London-born scholar and artist of Jamaican heritage has numerous publications on race, gender, sexuality, dance and ethnography, and he has lectured, choreographed and directed widely. His first book is Black Queer Dance: Gay Men and the Politics of Passing for Almost Straight (Routledge), while his forthcoming documentary Danced Out explores Black, gay male dancers in New York City.

Mark’s website https://www.markbroomfield.org/

Black Queer Dance https://www.routledge.com/Black-Queer-Dance-Gay-Men-and-the-Politics-of-Passing-for-Almost-Straight/Broomfield/p/book/9780367076351

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We meet Elizabeth Honer – the RAD’s first female chief executive in its 106 year history – marking her first year in post. Elizabeth’s career in public service has included leadership roles in the UK’s Treasury and Foreign Office. But ballet has long been a passion, and Elizabeth first encountered the RAD when taking exams as a child. She returned to dance as a Silver Swan, the life-changing programme for older dance students. How do her values translate into leadership? Culture doesn’t stand still, so leaders must stay alert – how will the RAD develop on her watch?

Elizabeth Honer has had a lifelong love of dance, starting her career at Sadler’s Wells and most recently through classes at RAD headquarters and as a member of the RAD’s Finance Committee, before being appointed Chief Executive of the RAD. She has had an illustrious career in public service, latterly as CEO of an HM Treasury commercial agency and a director at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, engaging at senior levels around the globe. Elizabeth was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.

Why Dance Matters is a dance podcast featuring inspiring conversations with extraordinary people from the world of dance and beyond. Hosted by David Jays, editor of Dance Gazette, this podcast explores how dance shapes lives and why it matters to us all. Brought to you by the RAD, which inspires the world to dance, these insightful stories will surprise and delight. Tune in and discover more on our website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.