Choreographer Development Programme

Seeta Patel Dance
Choreographer Development Programme in Bharatanatyam
2023-2024

Seeta Patel Dance (SPD) is one of the UK’s leading dance production companies, spearheaded by award-winning choreographer and dancer Seeta Patel. Acknowledging the importance of helping young artists identify and address challenges in their growth and training, and equipping them with the best tools for their professional and creative development, SPD is incredibly excited to launch the first iteration of this mentorship programme for early-career choreographers in Bharatanatyam.

This is a first-of-its-kind programme tailored to upcoming choreographic talents in Bharatanatyam ensemble work. Known for creating ground-breaking Bharatanatyam ensemble work like Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, Seeta will support 3 early-career choreographers to deep-dive and explore meaningful movement, and begin to create thought-provoking, exciting ensemble work.

Seeta says:

“As a new National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England, we are really pleased to offer more meaningful and resourced talent development for Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographers. Having faced many challenges myself as a South-Asian dancer trying to make work, I hope SPD can offer encouragement and support to a cohort of artists trying to develop their practice. In our shifting landscape, we must create more space and visibility for those with the drive to make fantastic work - this requires both resource and disruption of existing structures."

The first three choreographers on the programme are KAVYA IYER, ANJANA BALA and LUXICA ELLALAN.