Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company is a British dance group based in London and founded in 1988 by the company's artistic director and choreographer, Shobana Jeyasingh. The company has toured internationally including in Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, New York and throughout the United Kingdom (UK). It is also a regular participant in the Dance Umbrella festival in London. It has received three Digital Dance Awards, two Time Out Dance Awards and the London Music and Dance Award. Its work is part of the GCSE syllabus for dance in the UK. For example, Faultline.
The dancers are a mix of national backgrounds, including British, Malaysian, American, Italian, Indian and Spanish. [1] As collaborators, they are asked to draw on their personal cultures in the creation of choreography.
The company provides school and community education through apprenticeships, workshops, technique classes, and residency programmes.
Jeyasingh has produced more than 50 dance works. She often works in collaboration with other artists including contemporary composers such as Michael Nyman, Graham Fitkin and Kevin Volans.[2]
She states that her work is rooted in her experiences as a British Asian and explores the conflicts between diverse personal and cultural origins. Her choreography draws upon various sources, including Ballet, Bharatnatyam and contemporary ethnic dance forms.[1]
In 1995 Jeyasingh was awarded an MBE for services to dance. She holds an Honorary MA from Surrey University, an Honorary Doctorate from De Montfort University, and is a Research Associate at Middlesex University’s Research Centre for the Performing arts. In 2005 Shobana was the recipient of a NESTA Dream Time Fellowship. In 2008 she was named Asian Woman of Achievement for her contribution to Britain’s cultural life.
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