Based at Somerset House in central London, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance produces the choreographic works of Shobana Jeyasingh which are multi-disciplinary and ambitious. Shobana Jeyasingh Dance was named Best Independent Dance Company by the Critics Circle National Dance Awards in February 2020.
The company’s work involves collaborations and partnerships with an eclectic band of creatives who may be leading a baroque orchestra or designing the software for dancing with a robot. Our partners have included designers, universities, festivals, film makers, architects and art galleries among others. Since our work includes unusual sites our production work has to be bespoke and nimble. We tour widely in the UK and abroad in venues that are mid to large scale.
We are equally active on digital and online platforms. Our touring and site based work regularly includes specially commissioned film and digital visuals. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance we launched a podcast series, Surface Tension, which explores Shobana’s work that can be accessed on Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, and YouTube. Our recent stage works have been regularly live streamed for UK and international audiences. Our specially curated interactive online dance series, SJD Shorts, reached over a million people online in 2020.
SJD is particularly noted for commissioning and co-funding new music – music that often goes on to become successful and widely heard in its own right. Some of the exciting composers we have worked with include Michael Nyman (UK); the celebrated film composer Illayararaj (India); Elena Kats Chernin (Australia); Michael Gordon (USA); Christos Hatsis (Greece/Canada); Orlando Gough (UK); Kareem Roustom (Syria/USA) and beatboxer Shlomo (UK).
Dancers are our most important creative collaborators and though we do not have a permanent company of dancers, we work closely with those who share our vision. Our company dancers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and ages. Our dancers are not only technical masters of their craft but also co researchers in the studio where ideas progress into performance. We also run programmes and projects which further our commitment to dancers’ professional and creative development.
We have a strong creative learning programme which seeks to share our enjoyment and belief in dance and physical creativity. We believe in the value of lifelong learning.
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance is proud and privileged to have been supported by the Arts Council of England and a range of Trusts and Foundations. We are also honoured to have a dedicated group of supporters and friends who believe in the work we do. We are governed by a group of trustees who are closely involved in both our vision and delivery.
Awards & Achievements
TooMortal is performed at the Kuopio International Dance Festival in Finland
A specially-staged version of Contagion is included as part of Sadler’s Wells Dancing Nation programme, shown on BBC iPlayer.
Dane Hurst is nominated for Outstanding Male Modern Performance for his performance in Staging Schiele at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards.
Shobana Jeyasingh is appointed as Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance wins Best Independent Company at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards.
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance is nominated for Best Modern Choreography for Contagion at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards.
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance is nominated for Best Modern Choreography for Contagion at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards.
Staging Schiele is premiered and tours the UK
Shobana Jeyasingh starts work on Until The Lions for the Opéra National Du Rhin in Strasbourg
Contagion is placed in the top ten dance works of 2018 in the UK by The Guardian Newspaper
BBC FOUR broadcasts “Choreographing History” a documentary on the research and making of Contagion
Shobana is presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the WOW Women in Creative Industries Awards
Material Men Redux is chosen as one of top ten dance works of the year by The Observer Newspaper
Outlander, commissioned by The Istituto Interculturale di Studi Musicali Comparati at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini Venice and shown as part of the Venice Biennale Danza 2016 is streamed live, across multiple social media platforms and embedded across the web on partner sites
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance is nominated Best Independent Company in the National Dance Awards
Shobana is awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of Chichester
Shobana is announced as a named practitioner in the AQA specifications for study at AS and A-level Dance from September 2016
Shobana receives the 2014 Award for Excellence in International Dance from the International Institute of Dance and Theatre
The company celebrates its 25th anniversary with a commission from London’s Southbank Centre
For a second year running, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance is nominated Best Independent Company in Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards
The Cultural Institute at King’s College London appoints the company as Knowledge Producer
TooMortal, a site-specific work for historic churches, commissioned by Dance Umbrella premieres at The Venice Biennale Dance. It is also a part of the Cultural Olympiad 2012
The Company is nominated Best Independent Company in Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards
Funded by Tata group the company tours India for the first time in its 22-year history
Counterpoint is commissioned by Big Dance and English National Ballet. It is performed by 20 dancers in the historic fountain courtyard of Somerset House . It is filmed in 3D and broadcast on TV by Sky Arts
Faultline is added to UK GCSE dance syllabus
Shobana is named Asian Women of Achievement Awards for her contribution to arts in the UK
Shobana is awarded a NESTA Dream Time Fellowship to visit China and Japan
Dance Umbrella commissions [h]Interland, the first live dance webcast between UK and India
Palimpsest is nominated for the BBC2 South Bank Show Award
Palimpsest wins Time Out award for Best Choreography
Shobana is awarded an MBE for services to dance, an honorary MA from Surrey University and an honorary doctorate from De Montfort University, Leicester
The company is invited to perform at the legendary Jacob PiIlow in USA
The Company wins the prestigious Prudential Award for Dance for Romance with Footnotes and then goes on to win The Prudential Premier Award for the Arts worth £100,000
Shobana wins Time Out’s Best Choreography Award for Making of Maps
The Digital Dance Award fis given to commission Speaking of Sakti from legendary Indian choreographer Chandralekha
Shobana is chosen as one of two choreographers to represent the UK at the French Bicentennial celebrations directed by artist and film maker Jean Paul Goude
Digital Dance Award is given for Miniatures (a precursor to Configurations), with newly commissioned music by Michael Nyman
