Gauri Tripathi, Encee-s resident Kathak teacher and artist in residence at the Southbank Centre created the concept of the Kathak Collective, to allow all students to gain experience in choreography, develop their creativity and work together in a group to produce an evening of young fresh talent. This year, Kathak Collective 28 February 2009 collaborated with Urja Desai Thakore-s Paargrav Dance. The evening was a rare opportunity to witness traditional and contemporary Kathak pieces performed by both Academies. 80 young people were involved in this unique dance project. Guests included Milapfest, Akademi and Pratap Pawar.

Over 60 people gathered to watch a Bollywood film at Patidar House, 27 February 2009. Senior citizen co-ordinator, Bharti Anand led the project with an initiative to get the social club members in touch with the latest Bollywood movies. A home made lunch was made by the FPA volunteers. Strethcona Day Centre, Kingsbury Mental Health and Brent Mental Health service users attended the event.

Encee-s Kathak students performed at the 10th South Asian Dance Faculty, Misrana, London Queens Elizabeth Hall on the Southbank on 22 February 2009. Performances from young dancers who have achieved highly with ISTD had a chance to participate in the showcasing.

Akademi South Asian Dance and Encee Academy of Performing Arts are inviting 14 - 19 year olds to take part in free Performing Arts projects, where they also achieve their Bronze Level Arts Award. Arts Award is a nationally recognised qualification in the Arts open to 11- 25 years old.

Akademi has received funding from the Learning and Skills Council and the European Social Fund to deliver projects in Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham, Camden and Islington. The projects activities not only enhance the young peoples skills in South Asian dance but also their creative and life skills associated with personal success and employability. The first project is taking place at the Federation of Patidar Associations, Encee Academy of Performing Arts and is collaborating with the Artists in Residence at the Southbank Centre, Gauri Sharma Tripathi and Shlomo. The participants will be performing Urban Vani, a Kathak Beat Box Choir, which has been commissioned by Southbank.

The second project invited 80 Year 9 students from Copland School to take part in a taster session at Encee Academy

Federation of Patidar Associations, one of the country-s leading Asian community and arts organisation, hosted an evening of Bollywood fusion entertainment in honour of six leading British Indian entrepreneurs on Saturday 24 January 2009.

The event gave an insight into the successful mindset of these leading businessmen who have established worlds call businesses. The six entrepreneurs were: Bhiku and Vijay Patel, founders of Waymade Pharmaceuticals, Kirit Patel, founder of Day Lewis Group, Bharat Shah, founder of Sigma Pharmaceuticals and Vascroft Construction founders, Arjan and Shashi Vekeria. Hemant Patel, ex president of Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain was also honoured together with Lord Kamlesh Patel and Lord Naren Patel.

Over 200 people attended the event held in Wembley.

Encee Academy-s Kathak students, Payal Patel 25 and Seema Patel 24 performed The Moving Root Project (the cusp) at the Southbank Centre on the 6th December 2008 The Royal Festival Hall.

Gauri Sharma Tripathi who is Southbank-s Centre Artist in Residence, choreographer and teacher at Encee Academy of Performing Arts, Patidar House led this innovative dance project. Gauri Sharma explored the unique bond between two dancers. In the centre of an in-the-round stage, performers Seema Patel and Payal Patel juxtapose new dance techniques within the traditional repertoire of Kathak accompanied by live music. This multilayered piece allowed the audience to view this classical form from an alternative perspective.

Kathak students: Heenal Amin, Dhruti Dhattani, Hema Patel, Jessal Patel and Payal Patel performed at Sai Baba-s 83rd Birthday celebration at Kadwa Patidar Centre, Kenton on the 23rd November 2008. The unique dance items inspiration and choreography was carried out by Gauri Sharma. Thousands of people gathered to the celebratory event.

Encee Academy of Performing Arts presented Diwali Tales on 15th November 2008- an evening of story telling and classical folk dance. Over 90 participants were part of this years Diwali cultural dance festival. Shivani Sethia co-ordinated the project. Choreography of items were presented from Gauri Sharma, Payal Patel, Trishna Kumari, Usha Raghavan and Binal Trivedy. Seema Anand recorded the unique mystical narration at Life FM. The event was supported by Brent Council and Federation of Patidar Associations.

Encee senior Kathak and Bollywood students performed for Children in Need held at Wembley Arena on 14th November 2008. The girls performed a Kathak classical and a Bollywood remix. The event was covered and aired on BBC1.

Encee Academy Folk dancers performed at this years Diwali Bavis Gam event in Harrow leisure centre on the 7th November 2008. The students performed the Maypole fusion routine which has been taken to Brent Respect Festival in July 2008 and to Wembley Arena for the Cultural Olympaid Launch in September 2008. Alpa Patel, who is actively involved in Bavis Gam and Encee Academy lead, the project with choreographer Binal Trivedy.
Daughter Meera Patel: I have enjoyed participating in the Maypole collaboration and learning about Gujarati Folk Dance.
Alpa Patel: I am so pleased to see young girls take part in various community events.

The Encee Maypole Collaboration will continue to tour around Lodon.