This June, our Artistic Director Shobana Jeyasingh will be choreographing the timeless story of Krishna as imagined by celebrated contemporary composer John Tavener. This never-before-seen opera is produced by Grange Park Opera and set to premiere in their beautiful opera house in the Surrey countryside on June 4th.

Tavener spent his life studying religions in search of truth. He called his opera Krishna a “mystic pantomime”. It stages dance in an ethereal sound world.

Shobana Jeyasingh says “The R&D process for Krishna has been a fascinating roll call of the women associated with the Krishna stories – Radha, Rukmini, Yashoda and of course the demoness Puthana. I have been working with six wonderful dancers, including Tabitha O’Sullivan (last seen in We Caliban) and Catarina Carvalho as Rehearsal Director, who has also danced in many of our productions.”

World Premiere, 4 June – Grange Park Opera, Surrey.
For more information and to book visit grangeparkopera.co.uk

Photos:

• Research & development (R&D) for Krishna: Winnie Asawakanjanakit, Rosalia Panepinto, Ella Pileggi, Anna Smith, Yanki Yau
• Stage rehearsal of Krishna

Dancers: Mirabel Huang Smith, Kynda Ng, Tabitha O’Sullivan, Ella Pillegi, Yanki Yau, Chia Yu Hsu

Conductor: Mark Shanahan
Director: Sir David Pountney
Designer: Rachana Jadhav
Choreographer: Shobana Jeyasingh
Lighting Designer: Tim Mitchell

Last month we came to the end of our successful and much applauded seven-venue tour of We Caliban. We Caliban premiered at Snape Maltings in Suffolk in September 25 and journeyed from there to the Dorset coast, Coventry, York, Cornwall and finally, London where we had three shows at the amazing Sadler’s Wells East Theatre.

In addition, our engagement team and artists worked with local partners and communities to create workshops, flashmobs and curtain raiser performances as part of our Window into the Tempest programme.

Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, We Caliban takes a sideways and inventive look at Caliban, one of Shakespeare’s most intriguing creations – a rebellious and enslaved brown man.

Shobana Jeyasingh’s version imagines Caliban’s story before and after Shakespeare’s narrative. We Caliban offers a nuanced exploration of the cultural aspects of the colonial experience such as power exercised through language and sexual morals.

We would like to thank our audiences and participants, and our incredible creatives, performers, production and tech teams. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without them!

“I went to see We, Caliban the night before last and was amazed. I saw something of such extraordinary beauty, where the dancing was both tender and powerful. Every step was wonderfully, intentionally placed and yet, the movement seemed lithe and full of force. Marvellous. Thank you so much.” – audience member

“Exciting, powerful, beautiful, moving, vital, thought-provoking. An important mirroring of Shakespeare’s story. Amazing dancers. […] The thoughtfully crafted workshop I attended the following morning for our company of older dancers formed a wonderful counterpoint to the energy of the performance. I am so grateful for both and I would love more.” – audience member and participant

Shobana Jeyasingh Dance is recruiting for a Lead Dance Artist (Window into the Tempest)

Window into the Tempest is the national engagement programme running alongside SJD’s 2025–26 touring production We Caliban.

We are looking for a Lead Dance Artist, who will co-design and co-deliver the Window into the Tempest programme with fellow artists and the Engagement Team. This is a key creative role in shaping session plans, movement ideas, and workshop delivery, while supporting the development of an Early Career Dance Artist.

To apply for the role please send a CV supported by a covering letter or a video/ audio file to jobs@shobanajeyasingh.co.uk no later than noon, 12pm on Thursday 10 July 2025.

SJD has a strong commitment to a diverse workforce, supporting and encouraging a team from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skillsets while offering flexible working arrangements. We actively encourage applications from artists who identify as underrepresented, including global majority, neurodivergent, disabled and/or d/Deaf, LGBTQIA+, working class, and/ or from regions outside London.

Click below for our Job Pack and Equal Opportunities form:

SJD- Lead Dance Artist (Window into the Tempest)

Freelance, approx. 30 days between August 2025 – April 2026. £250 per day

Equal Opportunities Form

Deadline: Noon, 12pm on Thursday 10 July 2025.

For invited artists:

Should you wish to submit your application in another way, would like to speak to someone about any adjustments, have any questions or would like to discuss the role before you apply you can email admin@shobanajeyasingh.co.uk. We will work to accommodate access needs and encourage you to share what will support your success in the role.

We welcome your application.

Photo: Foteini Christofilopoulou. Dancers: Catarina Carvalho, Dane Hurst

Shobana Jeyasingh Dance is seeking a male dancer for our exciting new production ‘We Caliban’ based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The work interrogates colonialism as one of the defining issues of our times.

We are looking for a highly experienced and professional performer with a Global South heritage to complete our diverse cast.

The production will tour the UK and internationally and this role is paid at above ITC/Equity rates. Auditions by invitation only.

The role requires:

• An athletic, charismatic dancer with strong partnering skills.
• Acting and narrative skills and the ability to portray a character.
• Ability to devise in a collaborative manner and work under time pressure.
• Excellent contemporary dance technique.
• At least 3 years of professional experience.
• You must be eligible to work in the UK.
• Available to attend a London audition on Friday 6 June (daytime)

Production Schedule

• 14 July – 7 September 2025 Rehearsals in London (w/c 21 July in Oxford)
• 7 – 12 September 2025 Production week at Dance East, Ipswich
• 16 – 20 September 2025 Opening week (premier 20th)
• 22 Sept – end of October 2025 UK tour
• 5 March – end of April 2026 UK tour continues
• July – August 2026: International tour begins
• Autumn 2026 + 2027 Tour continues as per venue requests

Please complete this application form Closing date is 10am on Monday 2 June 2025.

Please note, if we reach capacity sooner than the deadline, the application process may close early, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a short audition on Friday 6 June. You will be notified of the outcome of your application by a member of the team via email.

If you have any queries about access support in general, about completing this application form or if we can support you in another way (including alternative application formats) please contact admin@shobanajeyasingh.co.uk

Thank you for your interest in working with Shobana Jeyasingh Dance.

Image: Chris Nash

Shobana Jeyasingh Dance will be touring a new production in 2025-2026, co-produced by Sadler’s Wells

We Caliban – An inventive, sideways look at Shakespeare’s The Tempest. 

Shakespeare’s brilliant last play, The Tempest, written as Europe was taking its first step towards colonialism, is a tale about power – exercised weakly, usurped violently, and regained through strategy and showmanship.

We Caliban sees this story through the eyes of Caliban, a minor character in the play whose life is changed forever when the power games of distant lands and unknown peoples are played out in his own remote island, making him a “monstrous” servant to a new master and his young daughter.

Jeyasingh’s bold and imaginative new work is presented by Shobana Jeyasingh Dance, co-produced by Sadler’s Wells, brought to life by eight outstanding dancers and a stellar creative team. 

Venues to be announced!

Graham Marchant, who sadly passed away on 28.12.24, was simply the best friend a dance company could have.

We feel deeply honoured to have had his love and support from the time we started. He was our chair of trustees for many years and remained a wise friend, donor and supporter always.

Graham was a rare human being and will always be remembered by us with much love and gratitude.

Photo: Graham and Shobana at Counterpoint, Somerset House, August 2023

Big Give Christmas Challenge 2024

Thanks to your generous support, we have exceeded our fundraising target for our recent Big Give campaign to launch our exciting new Engagement Programme to support early career dancers.

Many early career dance artists are struggling to make a living. Dance is more popular than ever, but it is a demanding, competitive industry to work in. Shobana Jeyasingh Dance (SJD) is committed to offer dance students and recent graduates career opportunities that they would not otherwise have.

Entering a professional dance career has become more difficult than ever before. Most dance companies have not survived in recent times due to devastating public funding cuts and a fragmented workforce following the pandemic – therefore opportunities for high-quality training and paid work at a living wage are few and far between.

Our Creative Engagement programme will provide unique opportunities for dancers in the later stages of training and the early stages of their careers. Each year, a significant number of dancers will benefit, and our deep knowledge of the dance industry will ensure that they are profound and impactful. The programme focuses on training, career-defining performance opportunities and the chance to work closely with choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh CBE and our team of experienced dance practitioners.

This is a project in development. We will post more about our new Creative Engagement programme soon!

Dancers: Fern Kershaw, Ellie Peacock, Alanah Corbridge, Mirabel Huang-Smith.

Photo: Amelia Troubridge

In a recent Guardian article, Artistic Director Shobana Jeyasingh provided a unique behind-the-scenes account of creating our upcoming dance film, (Don’t) Say My Name (available Spring 2025).

The article reveals the intense challenges of filming in the Spanish desert – from snakes and scorpions, fierce winds, blistering heat, and a shortage of tea bags…

Read the full article here.

Dancers: Bryony Pennington, James Finnemore, Jonathan Goddard and Estela Merlos

Photo: Foteini Christofilopoulou

New Production for 2025

Our new live performance production is inspired by The Tempest, Shakespeare’s final play, written at a time when Europe was taking its first steps into colonial expansion.

Caliban, the native of the unknown island, will take centre stage in our retelling of this complex story, in which we explore his complicated relationships with the all-controlling Prospero, Duke of Milan, and Prospero’s daughter Miranda.

Earlier in the autumn we spent seven busy days in the studio, developing new ideas for this exciting project. We feel sure that something “rich and strange“ will emerge as we carry on our creative journey! Please continue to follow our social channels for the latest updates.

Dancers: Dane Hurst, Fukiko Takase, Mickael Marso Riviere