Shobana Jeyasingh

Shobana Jeyasingh (born 26 Mar. 1957 in Chennai) is a British choreographer.

Jeyasingh grew up studying the classical Indian dance form bharatanatyam. She came to the UK in 1981 and, in 1988, she launched her own company, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance. She holds an honorary MA from Surrey University and an honorary doctorate from De Montfort University, Leicester. ^[1] In 2000 she suffered from a paralysing auto-immume disorder, but was able to recover and continue choreographing in 2002.^[2]

Work and awards

Jeyasingh has produced more than 50 dance works. Some of her performance venues include Greenwich Borough Hall, the cafe at Waterman's Arts, Brentford, The City Hall, as well as the steps of St Pauls as part of the Olympic Handover in August 08.^[3] She often works in collaboration with other artists including contemporary composers such as Graham Fitkin and Kevin Volans.^[4] In an early collaboration with composer Michael Nyman she made a work, "Miniatures", which later became the piece titled "Configurations".

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.^[5]

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 Jeyasingh 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.

References