Cooking with Monisha

| about me | dance career | indian dance workshop |

I am a professional Bharata Natyam (Indian classical) dancer and choreographer as well as a teacher of Indian folk and Bollywood dance.

Dance Styles

Classical and Contemporary Bharata Natyam, Folk, Creative, Film (Bollywood).

Training

Bharata Natyam (Guru Kalyanasundaram Pillai of Rajarajeshwari Bharat Natya Kala Mandir, Mumbai) for 30 years
Indian Folk dance for 5 years
Contemporary (MotionHouse dance Co, London & Laurie Booth, London)
Dance for film (Choreographers' course at Video Place, London)
Dance for special needs (D.I.C.E., London & Academy of Indian Dance, London)

Awards

'Shringar Mani', Mumbai, 1984
'Natya kala Shri', New Delhi, 1989
'Time Out London Dance & Performance Award', London, 1993

Work Experience

Performance:

Extensive solo performances in Europe, Africa, India and Canada.
Performed as exclusive Bharata Natyam dancer in cultural festivals organised by the govt. of India in Portugal, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands.
Touring with Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Co., London from 1990 to 1993, approximately 150 performances.
2 performances for HM the Queen of England (Opening of the Nehru gallery at the V & A museum, London, 1990 and the Centenary celebrations of the Commonwealth Institute, London, in 1993).
Touring of own contemporary Bharata Natyam productions titled 'The Dream' (1989-90), 'Confluence'(1991), 'Images of Promise' (1993-94) and 'Old is Gold' (1994) in the UK, Germany, Norway, Holland and Kenya.
Touring of a dance theatre production titled 'Moti Roti Puttli Chunni' as the leading heroine in 1994, in the UK & Canada.
TV performances include BBC's 'The late show' and a special profile on me and my work, 'Here & Now' on channel 4 and 'The Boy George Show' for Sky TV.

Choreography:

Artistic Director/Choreographer of own company - MONISHA BHARADWAJ DANCEWORKS in London.
Several works of classical Bharata Natyam, 1982 onwards.
'The Dream' - collaboration between Bharata Natyam and Kathak in 1989.
'Confluence' - collaboration between Bharata Natyam and Flamenco in 1990.
'Ten guineas under the banyan tree' - Bharata Natyam with Jazz & Ballet in 1990.
'Celebrations'- Indian dance to Western Cello in 1990.
'Images of Promise'- based on the life and music of Mozart, performed to an adaptation of his own music, on piano.
'Definitions' - based on the exploration of women's stereotypes in society.
'Moti Roti Puttli Chunni' - award winning, much acclaimed theatre production for Theatre Royal Stratford East.
'Gita Rahasya'- the biggest Indian mythological television serial so far.

I have performed on the The Late Show, for Channel 4 and in June 04 the BBC's Heaven and Earth Show featured me and my work in dance.

Education work

Workshops in all areas of Indian dance and movement for Oxford University, Brunell University, South Bank Centre, Commonwealth institute etc. Also for schools all over the UK. Currently working for Wise Moves Dance Limited as a freelance workshop provider.
Conducted a 2 week Dance Course for Summer University in London in August 2002, August 2003 as well as in August 2004.
Dance workshops called Dignity Dance for older people in Mumbai. This is to encourage fitness and health and to provide a sense of fun and purpose
Older People's Dance projects in London including the Annual Older People's Festival in Hounslow for 3 years including 2004. This involved a month of workshops with 30 participants resulting in a public performance.
I have set up many schools projects including one for the Spelthorne Council this year, resulting in a public performance.

I run several programmes teaching fitness through Bollywood dance, yoga and breathing. Also many fun Bollywood and classical dance classes in London! You can contact me at monishabharadwaj@hotmail.com to know more.

Dance Festivals

Kal - Ke - Kalakar, Mumbai - 1984
Swami Haridas Festival, Mumbai - 1985
Indian Cultural Festival, Harare -1985
Indian Cultural Festival, Dare - E - Salaam -1985
Indian Cultural Festival, Lisbon-1985
Indian Cultural Festival, Oporto -1985
Indian Cultural Festival, Amsterdam -1986
Shri Aurobindo Aradhana, Banglore - 1986
Purandara Dasa Festival, New Delhi -1986
Indian Cultural Festival, Nairobi -1986
Indian Cultural Festival, Mombassa -1986
Tubingen Festival, W. Germany - 1987
Niederkassel Festival, W Germany - 1988
Indian Summer, Place Theatre, London -1990
Turku International Festival, Finland -1991
Nottingham Festival, UK -1991
Contemporary Archives Festival, Nottingham - 1991
Fringe Benefits Festival, Derby, UK - 1991
The Festival of India, Leicester, UK -1991
Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 1991
Dance Umberella, UK - 1990,1991,1992
Springdance, Utrecht, Netherlands - 1991, 1992
Festival of Britain in Brussels, Brussels - 1992
Festival de Lille, France - 1992
Du Maurier World Stage Festival, Toronto -1995
Natyanjali Festival, Chidambaram - 1999
Paryayam Festival, Udipi, 2002
Kala Ghoda Festival, Mumbai, 2002, organised by the British Council, Mumbai
70th Anniversary Celebrations of Music Academy, Chennai, 2003
Choreography Festival, Mumbai, 2003

Photo Gallery

A Dance Workshop in a School in Surbiton

Here I am conducting a 'Hinduism in the Curriculum Workshop' for teachers. This was held at Brunel University and I spoke about festivals, rituals, dance and food and the applications in the classroom

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