Listen Live
Sunrise Gold

Sisters strike gold with Arts Awards

Sunday, 26 July 2020 at 09:48

By Raj Parmar X @allaboutraj

Talented sisters Ramsha and Sana Liaqat Kousar are celebrating after scooping Gold Arts Awards – made possible through a partnership project between Bradford Theatres and Bradford College.

The Gold Arts Awards, which carry lucrative UCAS points for higher education courses, will enable Ramsha and Sana to go forward in their chosen careers in mental health nursing and neurology.

Ramsha and Sana
Ramsha and Sana

A positive START

The sisters joined Bradford College as ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) students at the end of 2017 after arriving from Spain.

Ramsha (21) and Sana (19) were enrolled in the arts award programme through START – an engagement project of arts activity between selected cultural organisations and local schools and colleges that tackles inequality by working with young people who are deemed at risk of missing out on a creative and cultural education.

Thank you for giving me amazing life experiences

Ramsha, who is now going onto higher education at Bradford University to do a 3 year Nursing Mental Health degree, said:

“I’m so grateful to the Alhambra Theatre for being a partner of Bradford College and giving me such amazing life experiences and helping me to develop transferable skills that will be of benefit to me and my family for generations to come.

“To achieve my Gold Arts Award, I learnt from various practitioners including Dada Masilo, Carlos Acosta and the Matthew Bourne Dance Company in workshops at the Alhambra Theatre.

Developing a style of her own

“The performances, workshops and Q&A sessions inspired me to develop my own style of ballet and infuse some Spanish flamenco into a routine that I choreographed.

“I then had to teach the ballet dance to a group of people to develop my leadership skills. This was quite challenging because of the current Covid-19 situation. I made it available for other people – but particularly for Muslim girls – to learn ballet dance through online lessons.”

Sana: More Muslim girls should be allowed to experience the joy of dance

Sana, who is in her second year of A-levels and aspiring to study neurology, explained:

“We had to form an opinion on a topic that affects the arts and share it. I feel that more Muslim girls should be allowed to experience the joy of dance and that it can be a celebration of their religion and an expression of their God -given talent.

“I posted this on social media and had an overwhelming response as many girls and women commented to say that they had either been touched by my words or had felt that their desire to dance should be acknowledged and permitted rather than forbidden.

“I hope that, in the future, more Muslim ballet dancers and audiences will fill our theatres and I am grateful that the Gold Arts Award gave me an opportunity to recognise and express this desire.

The confidence to stand for what I believe in

“This award is a great personal achievement as I worked hard alongside my academic studies and battled obstacles like Coronavirus. Participating in the Gold Arts Award has been a great opportunity for me to improve confidence to stand for what I believe, and my skills such as patience, teamwork and communication. In the future, the qualification and these transferable skills will support my university application and allow me to go on to a brighter future.”

Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said:

“I would like to congratulate Ramsha and Sana on their exceptional achievement. They are proof that students who engage with the arts accelerate their ability to achieve in every aspect of their lives. I’m very proud of the work the team at Bradford Theatres and the students at Bradford College are doing as part of the Start programme.”

Achieving excellence in such a short space of time

Esther Wilkey, ESOL tutor at Bradford College said that the Arts Award scheme had helped Ramsha and Sana to integrate into British society and to share this within their own ethnic community. She added:

“I am quite sure that the work that they have done with the Alhambra Theatre has underpinned their academic success and enabled them to achieve excellence in such a short space of time.”

Share

More from Local and National News

  • Man Charged After Islington Shopping Centre Stabbing as Police Hunt Gunman

    A 36-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder following a stabbing at Angel Central shopping centre in Islington, where two other men were shot during the same incident. One shooting victim suffered life-changing injuries, while police continue searching for the gunman.

  • Two More Arrested in £1 Million University of Greater Manchester Fraud Investigation

    Greater Manchester Police have arrested two more men as part of a major investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the University of Greater Manchester. Detectives are examining suspected fraudulent activity worth more than £1 million, involving approximately 60 transactions and over a million emails.

  • Bradford Florist Burgled Just Weeks After New Owner Takes Over

    A florist in Wibsey, Bradford, has been targeted by a burglar just weeks after its new owner took over the business. Scentiments, on St Enoch's Road, suffered a smashed window and damage to its till during the early-hours break-in. Police are investigating and have collected evidence from the scene.

  • Bradford Woman Jailed for 10 Years Over Fatal 143mph Lamborghini Crash

    A 26-year-old Bradford woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after causing the death of her 20-year-old passenger in a high-speed crash on the M62. Humaira Batool reached speeds of up to 143mph in a hired Lamborghini Urus before losing control in wet conditions, killing Mohammed Shaan Hussain.

  • West London Homes Cracking as Residents Blame HS2 Tunnelling

    Residents near Queen's Park station in West London say their homes are developing serious cracks and suffering subsidence following HS2 tunnelling work. Emergency scaffolding has been installed at one property, with some residents relocated. HS2 says ground movement from tunnelling has been small and that unusually dry weather may be contributing to the damage.

  • Man Seriously Injured in Uxbridge Bus Attack

    A 51-year-old man has suffered potentially life-changing injuries following a serious assault on a bus in Uxbridge, West London. Police are investigating the incident, which happened on Belmont Road on Monday afternoon, and are appealing for witnesses.

  • Two Charged Over Historical Child Abuse in Bradford

    A man and woman, both aged 68, have been charged following an investigation into historical child sexual abuse in Bradford. The allegations relate to offences involving a 14-year-old girl in the Thorpe Edge area during the late 1970s.

  • Man Convicted of Rape in Leeds Hyde Park Area

    A 36-year-old man has been found guilty of raping a woman in the Hyde Park area of Leeds. Uvesh Vahora was convicted following a trial at Leeds Crown Court and has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on 11 November.

  • Over Half of London Women Feel Unsafe Exercising After Dark

    New research from the This Girl Can campaign reveals that 54 per cent of women in London feel unsafe exercising outdoors alone after dark. Concerns about harassment and intimidation are forcing many women to change their fitness routines, with a London running club planning additional group sessions to help women exercise safely during winter.

  • Woman Fighting for Life After Bradford Stabbing

    A 40-year-old woman has been left with life-threatening injuries following a stabbing in Buttershaw, Bradford. A 42-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon as police investigate two linked scenes.

  • Lamborghini Crash Driver Arrested at Hospital After Missing Sentencing

    A Bradford woman convicted of causing her friend's death in a 140mph Lamborghini crash on the M62 has been arrested at hospital after failing to attend her sentencing hearing. Humaira Batool, 26, has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced today (3 November).

  • Six Men with London Links Feature on NCA Most Wanted List

    Six men with connections to London feature on the National Crime Agency's most wanted list, including suspects linked to major drug trafficking investigations, alleged holiday fraud and money laundering. The NCA is appealing for information to help locate those wanted in connection with the investigations.

On Air Now Bollywood Mix 1:00am - 4:00am

Listener Club

Get more with the Listener Club!

  • Bhangra Nights Bhangra Nights

    Get over the Weekday blues - Every Tuesday night is party night with the best Bhangra and Urban Asian Beats. The Bhangra Show every Tuesday between 8pm-11pm

  • Alim OnAir Alim OnAir

    Have you a question about the religious, cultural or tradition aspect of Islam? Then join Hazrat Maulana Fazal Dad in the weekly show every Friday between 8-9pm.

  • Legal Show Legal Show

    Once a fortnight we dedicate a show to discussing legal issues and family / matrimonial law in particular. Alternate Friday mornings between 9am-11pm.

  • The Golden Era The Golden Era

    The golden era of Bollywood celebrated in this weekly show full of classics taking you back in time. Every Sunday between 5pm - 7pm