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Bollywood Steps

Nutkhut's Bollywood Steps, created by Birmingham raised Simmy Gupta, will form the centrepiece of the Town Hall's 175th anniversary celebrations.

Thousands of people are expected to take advantage of the three free performances in Birmingham's Victoria Square on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th October.Ìý

Bollywood Steps

Bollywood Steps is a breathtaking and iconic show inspired by Bollywood film.ÌýIntroduced by Bobby Friction, the performance will feature dazzling dance numbers, stunning architectural lighting of the Town Hall, fireworks, colourful costumes and water effects.

The cast will be joined by hundreds of local schoolchildren, youth dancers and dhol drummers, and there is also a moment of mass participation for the entire audience during a magnificent wedding scene - so get your dancing shoes on!

Olympic backing

The project was launched in Birmingham by Olympic gold medallist (and Â鶹ԼÅÄ Strictly Come Dancing finalist) Denise Lewis OBE – well known for her love of dance.

Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis OBE

Denise Lewis said: "Dancing is a really fun way to build exercise into your life and it's something that absolutely everyone can do.ÌýI've really enjoyed trying out the dance moves myself."

Bollywood Steps was originally premiered in Trafalgar Square and marries dance forms such as salsa, kathak, classical, hip-hop, Bhangra and folk, with the elaborate production values of the old Hollywood musicals.

Simmy Gupta, co-Artistic Director and co-Founder of nutkhut said, "It's fantastic to bring Bollywood Steps to my home town and exciting to be invited to the Town Hall's 175th Anniversary celebrations."

Bollywood Steps drummer

Simmy trained in the 500 year old tradition of Kathak dance in Birmingham, touring nationally and internationally during the 1990s. Her work as a dancer and choreographer has spanned theatre, film, television and fashion, working with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Diesel Clothing Company.

Simmy's recent work includes creating the choreography for 'Planet Ajay', a new 13-part CÂ鶹ԼÅÄ series.

Part of the official London 2012 Cultural Olympiad

Bollywood Steps is part of the West Midlands Culture Programme for London 2012 and has been awarded the Inspire Mark which recognises innovative and exceptional projects directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.Ìý

For full details of Bollywood Steps see the official website.

Birmingham's Light Night

Bollywood Steps will be the centrepiece of Birmingham's Light Night evening on Saturday 10th October.

Light Night lets you see the city from a fresh perspective as it is flooded with various light forms.

Town Hall - Light Night 2008

Light Night is a national programme with six cities (including Birmingham) taking part in 2009. Birmingham held its very first Light Night as part of Artsfest in 2008 and it was deemed a huge success.

Birmingham's Light Night includes entertainment on the stage in Centenary Square from 6pm, followed by nutkhut's Bollywood Steps in Victoria Square, and culminating in a firework display at 10.45pm in Centenary Square.Ìý

There will be street entertainment around the city including brindleyplace, Centenary and Chamberlain Squares, and spectacular architectural lighting on the Town Hall, as well as lighting trails and craft workshops.Ìý

Fountains and trees will be lit up around the city and a choral concert by Candlelight will take place in Birmingham Cathedral.Ìý The Museum & Art Gallery will be open until 11pm.

For more details see the official website.