Shobana Jeyasingh

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Shobana Jeyasingh CBE (born 26 March 1957 in Chennai) is a British choreographer and founder of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance. [1]

Shobana Jeyasingh has been creating dance works for 30 years. Born in Chennai, India, she currently lives and works in London. Her acclaimed, highly individual work has been witnessed in all kinds of venues, including theatres, outdoor and indoor sites and on film. Her work taps into both the intellectual and physical power of dance, and is rooted in her particular vision of culture and society.

Shobana’s work is often enriched by specially commissioned music composed by an array of contemporary composers — from Michael Nyman to beat-boxer Shlomo. Her collaborators have included filmmakers, mathematicians, digital designers, writers, animators, as well as lighting and set designers.

Shobana has also made a significant contribution to dance in the UK and internationally through her published writings, papers, panel presentations and broadcast interviews.

Work and awards

Jeyasingh has produced more than 50 dance works.

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 dance.

Jeyasingh was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1995 and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours, [2] both 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.

Complete list of works

2022Clorinda Agonistes (Clorinda the Warrior)Commissioned by Sadler's Wells and supported by PRS Foundation for Music
2019Staging SchieleCommissioned by Southbank Centre and supported by DanceEast
2018ContagionCommissioned by 14-18 NOW and supported by Wellcome Trust (restaged 2020)
2017Bayadère – The Ninth LifeRe-staging at Sadler's Wells, London
2017Material Men redux(restaged 2020)
2016études
2016OutlanderCommissioned by the Fondazione Giorgio Cini and a special event for Venice Biennale Danza 2016
2015Material MenCommissioned by Southbank Centre
2015Trespass R&DCollaboration with academics from the Department of Informatics, Faculty of Natural & Mathematical Sciences at King’s College London and The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL
2015Bayadère – The Ninth LifeCommissioned by The Royal Ballet Studio Programme
2014In FlagranteCommissioned by Artakt, University of the Arts London
2013TranslocationsPart of the Knowledge Producers programme, Cultural Institute at King’s
2013Strange BloomsCommissioned by Southbank Centre
2012TooMortalDance Umbrella, Venice Biennale, Dansens Hus Stockholm, BITEF Belgrade, London 2012 Festival
2012ConfigurationsPart of Classic Cut Double Bill
2012Dev Kahan Hai? / Where is Dev?Part of Classic Cut Double Bill
2010CounterpointSomerset House and English National Ballet for Big Dance 2010, Broadcast in 3D by Sky Arts
2010Bruise Blood
2009Just Add Water?City of London Festival for Steps of St Paul’s Cathedral
20082Step
2007Faultline
2007The Dancer’s Cut
2007Exit No Exit
2005Transtep 2
2005Flicker
2004TranstepIncluding choreography by Lisa Torun, Filip Van Huffel and Rashpal Singh Bansal
20044SquaresMayor of London for Diwali in London in Trafalgar Square
2004Foliage ChorusArtsDepot, London
2003Café EventWaterman’’s Arts Centre
2003Curve ChameleonGreater London Assembly
2002[h]Interland
2002Phantasmaton
2001Web
2000Surface Tension
1999Fine Frenzy
1999Memory and Other Props
1998IntertenseChoreographed by Wayne McGregor
1998Intimacies of the Third Order
1997Astral ShadowsChoreographed by Laurie Booth
1996Palimpsest
1996The Bird and the Wind
1995RaidBroadcast by BBC
1993Delicious ArbourChoreographed by Richard Alston
1993Duets with AutomobilesCommissioned by Arts Council England and BBC
1993Romance… …with Footnotes
1992Making of Maps
1991Speaking of SaktiPart of New Cities Ancient Lands Triple Bill Choreographed by Chandralekha
1991LatePart of New Cities Ancient Lands Triple Bill
1991ByzantiumPart of New Cities Ancient Lands Triple Bill
1990Correspondences
1989Defilé
1988Configurations
Commissions
2017HereCompany of Elders
2014Terra IncognitaRambert
2009DetritusBeijing Dance Academy
2008BreachBallet Black
2006City:zenHong Kong co-choreography with Mui Cheuk-yin
2005Pop IdleRicochet Dance Company – Move Me Dance Booth
2004DebrisAnurekha Ghosh Dance Company
2003Triptych SelfCanasia Dance Festival, Canada
2003Neon DreamSonia Sabri Dance Company
2003Polar SequencesRandom Dance Company
2002Curve Twist GazeSonia Sabri Dance Company
University & College Commissions
2016Dance BeneathMapDance, University of Chichester
2009Re:MixLaban CAT
2008Body TalkMapDance, University of Chichester
2007SibuyaLondon Studio Centre
2007TaxonMiddlesex University
2006CounterfeitNorthern Contemporary Dance School
2005Skin DeepLondon Contemporary Dance School

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References

  1. "BBC Young Dancer 2019 - Shobana Jeyasingh". BBC.
  2. "No. 62866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N9.