IMPACT MISSION

The mission of IMPACT is to empower youth and open their creativity and self-esteem through South Asian performance and martial arts banethi and kalari. The goals of our workshop program are to promote physical and mental health, diffuse aggression, demystify physical conflict, and promote community safety while teaching disciplines that have relevance to many of our participants’ cultural heritage. We create opportunities for youth to explore cultural histories and philosophies, develop leadership skills, and connect to and shape their communities.

IMPACT MANDATE

Our mandate is to promote physical and mental wellness, and cultural and community awareness through the practice of South-Asian performance and martial arts, and the allied arts.

To promote the best interests of urban youth in Ontario through support of youth-involved projects and performances

And to develop and foster youth-leadership and community spirit

ABOUT IMPACT

We create a safe environment for youth to explore movement-based expression and take their talents into self-directed community-arts projects. These projects can involve other disciplines such as music, spoken word, film and video, or theatre and performance. We invite guest artists, providing youth with a range of exposures to other South Asian Performance Arts and collaborative options. The youth learn banethi and kalari as aspects of a rich South Asian arts tradition and contemporary cultural practice that they can shape and make their own.

KALARIPAYATTU

Kalaripayattu, or kalari, is a martial art traditionally practiced in the Indian States of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. With its body twists, stances, jumps and turns, kalari is a physically demanding, dynamic, precise form. With origins that date back over 2,000 years, kalari is believed to be one of the oldest martial art forms in the world.

BANETHI

Banethi is a North Indian art from the state of Uttar Pradesh with Hindu, Muslim and Sikh origins as a training tool for swords, and involves the cyclic wielding of staves or ropes. There are eight banethi forms: one and two handed staff or rope, with or without fire. There are one-hundred-and-twenty known banethi movements, with infinite combinations. There are few teachers of banethi remaining worldwide. Since the Partition of India, the martial aspect of the art has diminished as the performance aspect has grown - Banethi serves as a medium for sustained and meditative performance.