ASiT Gala Dinner
The venue for this year's dinner will the Garden Suite of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
The Gala Dinner setting in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens will provide a perfect backdrop for an exquisite meal and a chance to mingle informally with other delegates, invited speakers, and ASiT council members. The evening will begin with a reception at 7.30pm with a sumptuous 5 course meal to follow at 8pm. Entertainment throughout the night will feature a Bhangra Group (Nachda Sansaar - see below), giving a unique flavour of culture in Birmingham, Comedy with Mr Ian Hunter, and after dinner insight from Mr Mark Taylor. Dancing will continue until the small hours when we will finally see our way home....
Black Tie/Formal Dress is preferred for the Gala Dinner and all full registrants (excluding Medical Students who are invited at extra charge) are invited to the Gala Dinner as part of their registration fee.
Menu
Starter
Italian Salad
Wedges of Mozzarella, ripe beef tomatoes with a rocket salad, basil oil dressing and a herb croûte
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Soup
French Onion Soup with a Parmesan Soufflé
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Main Course
Pan Fried Breast of Chicken
Stuffed with ricotta and rocket, served with a sun-blushed tomato mash, char-grilled peppers and aubergines, pesto cream sauce
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Dessert
Brioche and Butter Pudding
Blueberry and caramelized apple bread and butter pudding topped with a vanilla infused marscapone
If you require a vegetarian option, please inform us at conference2008@asit.org
About our entertainers:
Nachda Sansaar
Website: www.nachda-sansaar.com
Nachda Sansaar formed in 1984. The founder members had just left school to go on to college and were asked to put together a dance performance for a charity event.
They choreographed a contemporary routine using traditional Bhangra moves, with a western flavour. ‘Bhangra Freestyle’ was born. The first performance was very successful; the youth of yesteryear were spellbound by the combination of traditional costumes, modern music and fusion dance.
The group named themselves Nachda Sansaar. Literally translated this means
‘Dancing World’. They performed various Freestyle routines for the next two years at many community and charity events. All of the founder members of Nachda Sansaar were born and bred in the U.K. Not surprisingly the western influences featured highly in their Freestyle routines. This style of dance was something never seen before in the U.K. or abroad and put Nachda Sansaar at the forefront of their art.
In 1989 the group felt the need to go back to their roots. They acquired the help and guidance of one of the countries most well respected Dhol players, Mr G.Mall. G.Mall had coached and managed the top traditional Bhangra dance groups in the country, and after becoming involved with Nachda Sansaar he exclusively used all his expertise and coaching skills, to mould them into the most high profile Bhangra dance group in the U.K. G.Mall still manages and coaches the group and has instilled the importance of remembering and respecting one’s heritage and roots. This has given each member a sense of loyalty and commitment, which is unrivalled. The traditional and freestyle routines provide a fast and exhilarating spectacle, full of colour and vibrant music, for all to enjoy.
Nachda Sansaar have appeared on many Television Programmes over the past 10 years. Their professionalism and exemplary conduct has made them the first choice of many television networks. Some of their memorable performances include:
• Opening ceremony at The Commonwealth Games 2002
• Interval act at The Eurovision Song Contest 1998
• Jim Davidson’s Generation Game
• BBC’sBlue Peter, 8.15 from Manchester, Network Eastand Summer in the City
•Asian hit comedy Goodness Gracious Me
• ITV’s Surprise Surprise and Ripley & Scuff
Bhangra is a bright and energetic dance, which is ideal for brightening up any happy occasion. Nachda Sansaar has performed at many festivals and exhibitions. Performances that have given them national recognition include appearances at the:
- Belfast Mela 2004
- 2003 Bhangra World Champions
- G8 Summit Birmingham – 1998
- “Glastonbury Festival”- 1994
- “Womad Festival”- 1992
- “Birmingham in Munich” festival Germany. 1992
They represented Birmingham in the ‘Year of Music 1991’, sponsored by Cadbury'sAwards. In 1991 and 1992 they were voted the ‘Best Bhangra Dance Group’ at the Asian Pop Awards. In 2000 they received an award for their ‘Outstanding Contribution to the U.K. Asian Dance Scene’
Ian Hunter
"A confident stage manner that instantly wins the audience's trust." - Chortle
"…excellent, well thought out material." - Cheekycomedy.co.uk
Born and raised in Belfast, Ian Hunter began performing comedy on the Irish circuit as "a bit of a hobby between trips to the bar. " A natural talent became apparent very quickly as he appeared in the semi-final of the Daily Telegraph Open Mic Awards 2000 in only his second gig. He then went on to win the "Gagging for Bass" competition at Belfast's Cathedral Quarter Festival.
Now based in London, he has performed at venues throughout the country, including The Comedy Store (10 mins), Comedy Café, The Pleasance in Edinburgh and Belfast's Waterfront Hall in a showcase of Northern Ireland's best up and coming talent.
His material draws from topics as diverse as his interesting career, his Belfast roots and perhaps more randomly how to go about milking a polar bear.
He delivers his set with the composed assuredness of a man who needs to have a steady hand whilst removing your spleen.
STAND UP
Winner Gagging for Bass 2001
Finalist Chortle Student Comic of the Year 2004
Semi-finalist Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award 2000
Regional finalist BBC New Comedy Awards 2003
Mark Taylor
Mark has been a Consultant Hepatobiliary Surgeon for the past 18 months. Having ridden the high life as a trainee and been involved with ASiT, Mark has slowly begun to come to terms with life on the 'dark side'.
A self composed, assured individual with a diverse background Mark has had to draw on all of his expertise, knowledge, and skills as he wrangles with management, patients and the NHS as a whole.
We are fortunate to be ina position to have Mark tell us about some of his experiences, trials, and tribulations, and what may come for us all in the future.......