British Indian choreographer Seeta Patel tours UK with ‘The Rite of Spring’

British Indian choreographer, dancer and activist, Seeta Patel, has set off on a UK-wide tour to bring audiences across the country a unique amalgamation of South Indian dance form Bharatanatyam with Stravinsky’s iconic classical score entitled ‘The Rite Of Spring.’

Normally seen as a solo dance form, Seeta Patel Dance’s first full-scale production tour of ‘The Rite Of Spring’ is a rare chance for audiences to see contemporary Bharatanatyam performed in an ensemble. Joining forces with the acclaimed Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Kirill Karabits, this production follows on from the company’s landmark performance on the Sadler’s Wells Theatre’s main stage in March 2023.

By uniting this South Indian dance with its intricate rhythmic footwork, geometric and dynamic movements, and expressive prowess with Stravinsky’s score and a full orchestra, Patel’s company bridges the gap between Indian dance and Western culture, introducing something exciting and new to the wider dance landscape.

Joining the 10 strong dance line-up on tour is rising star Adhya Shastry, who won the BBC Young Dancer 2022 award at just 17 years of age. The ensemble includes four dancers from the UK, with the remainder amassed from all over the world including Holland, Malaysia, and India.

MORE LIKE THIS…

“I am incredibly excited to be touring in collaboration with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and their incredible Chief Conductor Kirill Karabits to bring the work to its full glory with an ensemble and full orchestra,” Patel said on her collaboration with Karabits.

“Combining the powerful art forms of classical music and Bharatanatyam dance has been a long-held ambition of mine. Less bound by the usual aesthetics of Bharatanatyam, I can’t wait for audiences to see a more contemporary staging so that both dancers and orchestra shine in their own right. Expect vibrancy, rhythm and expression in a joyous celebration of music and movement,” she added

This major tour comes at a great time for Patel - who will be celebrating her 20^th anniversary as a dancer in the industry this winter – as it marks a significant step up in profile for the Seeta Patel Dance since its newly-acquired National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status awarded by the Arts Council England in November 2022.

MORE LIKE THIS…

Catch Patel’s exciting production this week at The Lowry, Manchester on November 21 and The Anvil, Basingstoke on November 23.

*Info: Seeta Patel Dance