Falling just after the official Festival of Lights that’s celebrated by communities across the world, Blackheath Halls’ popular Diwali event returns with live music, dancing and a sumptuous dinner…
Guests will be serenaded by a classical music recital before tucking into an authentic Indian meal cooked by local gourmet restaurant Babur Brasserie. Once fed, it’s time to get back on your feet to take part in a Bhangra dance workshop.
Moving into the venue’s larger space this year, the Great Hall, the Diwali celebrations will be the first chance many visitors will get to see the Grade II-listed concert hall following the refurbishment of its outdoor space.
We spoke to Nicola Metselaar, marketing manager for Blackheath Halls, to find out more…
The Diwali music, dinner and dance has become an annual tradition at Blackheath Halls. What can attendees expect from the 2023 event?
We have been running our Diwali Dinner and Dance for the past four years and it has been incredibly popular with the local community.
This year we have moved the event to our larger space, the Great Hall, so that we can host more people and everyone has more room to join in with the dancing if they would like to do so.
Tell us about the programme…
As with previous years, the audience will enjoy a variety of entertainment starting with a classical music recital, followed by a fabulous tasty Indian dinner and culminating in a fun and enjoyable Bhangra dance workshop led by Kent-based Cohesion Plus, who we have worked with for our previous events, and are always able to get everyone up and enjoying the dancing.
Tell us about the two performers who will be entertaining guests: Harkiret Singh Bahra and Debipriya Sircar.
We are very excited about the performers this year as they are all highly experienced musicians.
The tabla player Harkiret Singh has been to Blackheath Halls several times before, playing at our Diwali event in 2022 and our Holi celebrations earlier in the year.
Joining him will be special guest Debipriya Sircar, an established vocalist and sitar player, performing here for the very first time.
With any cultural event, music plays such a big part in the whole experience and it wouldn’t be a Diwali event without Indian music and dance.
There’s also a bhangra dance workshop! Any words of encouragement for those with two left feet?
There are many of us out there! I would say that Cohesion Plus are very clever, teaching the moves in a relaxed and fun way so that there is no pressure.
It’s all about enjoying the music, and if people would rather just sit and watch, they’ll have plenty of space to be able to do that as well.
Forest Hill-based Indian restaurant Babur is providing the feast. What can we expect from it?
Babur is a well-known and popular Indian restaurant in Forest Hill. We have worked with them every since the very first Diwali event in 2018. Their food is mouthwatering and always very well received by our guests.
They will be providing a vegetarian dinner and the only sneak peek that we can give you is that it will all be delicious!
Will there be a bar operating as part of the event too?
Absolutely, our bar will be open throughout the event, an hour beforehand and for some time afterwards providing a wide variety of drinks for all.
Your Diwali event falls a week before the festival itself, and a night before Guy Fawkes. With no fireworks display on Blackheath anymore, having the opportunity to embrace Diwali, another festival of light, must make up for it a bit. Can you reflect on this perhaps?
It’s a real shame that the fireworks are no longer happening on the Heath as they were such a notable date in the calendar for everyone around the area and beyond.
Our hope is that we are giving people light, colour, fun and music back on that weekend as well as embracing the cultural diversity of our area.
Diwali: Indian music, dinner and dance is taking place at Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, Blackheath, London SE3 9RQ.
November 4, 6pm.
Admission: £60/£30 under 18s.
