The Mughal Miniatures Dance Party
Enjoy a vibrant outdoor performance as pop-up pictures come to life, learn new dance moves in a fun workshop, and put them into action with a live DJ to keep the party going.
Step back in time and to another continent to meet the feisty Queen, to dance as if no one is watching in the monsoon, to tame a cheeky peacock, to hunt in the forest and to join in the procession of noble elephants.
Mughal Miniatures celebrates and takes inspiration from the exquisite traditional art of Indian and Persian miniature painting, presenting a series of pop-up, living pictures which evoke scenes of Indian princely courts and lush gardens. The glory of the Mughal period is contrasted with a contemporary twist, delighting and surprising passers-by.
But everything is not as it seems and our well-behaved characters have grown tired of their roles. With the help of the audience, they can break free from their picture frames and the actions that are expected of them.
Between performances, join in with a participatory dance workshop led by dancers from Sonia Sabri company and take to the dance floor yourself with sets from DJ Ritu.
Sonia Sabri Company is a dynamic company which has established an international reputation for presenting Kathak dance in a contemporary context. The company creates work relevant to modern audiences that is inspired by Indian and British culture, and the rich possibilities that arise when they meet.
DJ Ritu MBE is a trailblazing broadcaster, turntablist, and radio and podcast producer, who is the voice of global music show A World in London. She’s a pioneer of the 1990s Asian underground and bhangra scenes, and introduced and promoted these sounds across the world. In 2023 she was awarded an MBE for services to music and broadcasting throughout her almost four-decade career.
Need to know
Performances and DJ can be enjoyed by all ages.
Workshops are recommended for ages 5+
This is a Relaxed Event. Relaxed Events have a relaxed approach to noise and movement in the space and you are free to come and go.
A chill-out space and noise-cancelling headphones are available for both adults and children. There are no adjustments to sound and lighting for this event and it contains amplified live and recorded music and energetic movement.
You can join our free Access Scheme through your online Southbank Centre account or via email.
Find out more about our Access Scheme
All our Access & facilities information
Schedule:
12 noon – 1pm: DJ Ritu live set
1pm – 1.45pm: dance workshop
1.45pm – 2pm: Mughal Miniatures performance
2pm – 3pm: DJ Ritu live set
3pm – 3.45pm: dance workshop (repeat)
3.45pm – 4.10pm: Mughal Miniatures performance (repeat)
4pm – 5pm: DJ Ritu live set
Dates & times
Price
- Standard entryFree
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Venue
Outdoor spaces
As we welcome you back, our number one priority is the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff, so we’ve introduced a number of measures to help everyone stay safe.
Check our event pages for opening dates and times.
Our address is: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX.
- The nearest tube and train stations within 5-7 minutes walk are Waterloo (Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee and Waterloo & City lines) and Embankment (District & Circle lines).
- There are also lots of bus routes with stops 2-5 minutes from our venues. For more information on getting here by road, rail or river.
Toilets
Toilets, including accessible toilets, are open on Level 2 of the Royal Festival Hall for ticket holders and those attending Riverside Terrace events.
Cloakroom
The Royal Festival Hall cloakroom is in the Green Side Foyer, Level 4. It’s £1 per item, card only. The cloakroom opens about an hour before ticketed events, and closes around 15 minutes after the performance ends. It can be accessed via Lifts 2 & 3, Green Side, Royal Festival Hall. The Queen Elizabeth Hall cloakroom is closed.
Any sized item can be left in our cloakroom, including fold-away bicycles. We don’t accept non-folding bicycles. Items must be collected on the same day they are stored. From time to time, the cloakroom may not be available. You won’t be able to bring any bags over 40 x 25 x 25cm into the auditorium of the Royal Festival Hall or the Queen Elizabeth Hall, or into the Hayward Gallery, so please leave large bags at home.
Items are left in our cloakrooms at the owner’s risk, and we cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage, from any cause, to these items.
Entering the hall
There may be short queues to enter the building and the auditorium. If you are not able to queue or need further assistance, our Visitor Assistants are here to help you.
For level access to the Royal Festival Hall, please use the external lift near the Artists' Entrance on Southbank Centre Square, Belvedere Road, to Level 2, and enter via Riverside Terrace. All floors are accessible from the main foyer.
We welcome wheelchair users and guide companion dogs.
More about Access & facilities
Parking
Blue Badge holders and those with access requirements can be dropped off on the Queen Elizabeth Hall Slip Road off Belvedere Road (the road between the Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward Gallery).
There are four Blue Badge parking spaces available for visitors located on the Queen Elizabeth Hall Slip Road. Spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and are free to use. You must display your Blue Badge as you enter the site. Vehicles that do not display a Blue Badge are refused entry.
Blue Badge parking at National Theatre
Alternative parking for Blue Badge holders visiting the Southbank Centre can be found at the National Theatre car park (330 metres). If you are visiting the Hayward Gallery, just take your badge and car park ticket to the Ticket Desk in the gallery foyer for validation before you leave.
Please note: on Sunday when the National Theatre building is closed there is no step-free access from the car park.
Alternative parking is available nearby at the APCOA Cornwall Road Car Park (490 metres), subject to charges.
Blue Badge parking at APCOA Cornwall Road
Alternative parking for Blue Badge holders visiting the Southbank Centre can also be found at the South Bank Car Park – APCOA Cornwall Road Car Park. Just take your badge and car park ticket to the parking attendant office at the entrance to the car park for validation before you leave.
A drop-off point at the Royal Festival Hall (30 metres) has been created for visitors who are unable to walk from alternative car parks.
Our Access Scheme
If you have any access requirements, please sign up to our Access Scheme for discounts, wheelchair spaces, dedicated seats and free companion tickets. You can also join our mailing list to get news about accessible events and exhibitions.
There are a wide variety of restaurants and cafes to enjoy around our site, as well as the Southbank Centre Food Market.