Debate the future of South Asian arts in the UK at DNAsia, an energising two-day conference at Watermans, Brentford, on March 24 and 25.

Live events showcase the latest in dance, film, art and new media, including performances by the Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company. Speakers such as Keith Khan from moti roti and Jatinder Verma from Tara Arts aim to shake-up current thinking on South Asian arts and lead delegates towards “a revitalised and remotivated next phase of action”. Key elements from the conference will be reported online from the end of April at www.watermans.org.ukDNAsia. Information: 020 8232 1010.

Books in the East

Enjoy the best new writing at literary festivals across the east of England. Essex Book Festival runs throughout March and includes Rachel Seiffert, Janice Galloway, Will Hutton and Pete McCarthy, plus a chance to discover Europe’s top crime writers. Information: 01206 573948.

Beryl Bainbridge, Penelope Lively and David Lodge perform at the Kings Lynn Fiction Festival, March 14-16. Tel: 01553 691661. CambridgeWordFest (March 28-30) offers Polly Toynbee, Jackie Kay and exciting new Nigerian novelist Helon Habila, winner of the Commonwealth Writers Prize Africa section for his first book Waiting for an Angel. www.cambridgewordfest.co.uk.

Musical Tidal Wave

Hear 1,000 school performers from south-west London joining forces for an evening of samba, Stravinsky, DJs, VJs and dhol drumming in Making Waves at the Royal Albert Hall on March 19. Bhangra dancers share the programme with a130-piece symphony orchestra and a 217-strong concert band. Tel: 020 7589 8212; www.royalalberthall.com.

judith palmer