All set to make a splash with unique aquatic production

The seeds of the project, which sees a fusion of Indian Kathak dance with synchronised swimming stage in the pool at Ponds Forge, were sown 18 months ago.

Since then professional dancers, elite swimmers and a live band have been working towards the watery performance which takes its inspiration from Hollywood choreographer and director Busby Berkley.

“It’s ambitious, but then anything worth doing requires hard work,” says choreographer Balbir Singh, who has been working with Egyptian-born synchronised swimmer Heba Abdel Gawad since 2010.

Now working as a pilates instructor in Leeds, Heba, along with the British Olympic synchronised swimming team helped Balbir transfer his ambitious plans from the page to the pool.

“It’s been a fantastic experience,” he adds. “The research for a performance of this scale and nature is incredibly in depth, but the results have been well worth it.

“By marrying together these completely different genres, we have pushed forward the boundaries artistically, musically and choreographically. This should be one exceptional performance.”

Last year, the Balbir Singh Dance Company, launched a series of Aqua-Kathak sessions designed to get members of the public involved in this very different style of dance.

The result is that 30 members of the public will join the professionals in the pool for the one-off performance next week. Lasting 45 minutes, the piece also features a dozen musicians playing traditional Indian music and the 40- strong Leeds People’s Choir.

Reflecting Berkley’s trademark camera angles, the audience will be given a bird’s eye view of the spectacle, looking down on the performance from above.

Synchronised is the latest event to be unveiled as part of the region’s Imove programme which was set up to produce a programme of events along the theme of movement in the run-up to London 2012.

The organisation commisioned the work with the UK Legacy Trust providing £2.6m worth of funding and while there will be only one full performance in the Sheffield pool, it will, say organisers, leave a lasting legacy. Balbir is currently adapting Synchronised for a stage version to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic torch in Sheffield on June 25 and plans are also in the pipeline to take the show on a national tour following the Olympic closing ceremony.

“Imove is all about celebrating human movement and building new partnerships between culture and sport,” says David Edmunds, Imove producer, who has been working alongside Balbir and Heba on the performance.

“Synchronised shows how these two very different areas can combine to produce something distinctive and new and we are hopeful that Aqua Kathak classes will continue to be offered in local swimming pools for years to come.

“It will be a reminder to everyone of the legacy left by London 2012 in Yorkshire.”

Synchronised, Ponds Forge, June 14. For tickets call 0114 256 5567 or online at www.sheffieldboxoffice.com