Seeta Patel
Spearheaded by award-winning choreographer and dancer Seeta Patel, the Company creates live stage performances which focus on classical Indian and contemporary dance and dance theatre. The company’s choreographic output is deeply influenced by Patel’s roots and training in Bharatanatyam, with each production mining its rhythms, musicality and expression in a unique way.
Live dance theatre productions are supported by Audience Development, Outreach, Advocacy and Talent Development, which is a cornerstone of Seeta Patel Dance’s vision. The Company prides itself on providing an aspirational environment where young people in the dance sector can see the true value of the art form and its place in the world, supporting artists through workshops, masterclasses, apprenticeship and a newly introduced Choreographer Development Progamme in Bharatanaytam. By exposing them to a professional practice, giving them better tools to support their personal and professional development and showing them the possibilities within the sector, Seeta Patel Dance commits to improving the richness of the dance landscape.
The Company’s most recent production, The Rite of Spring, is a reimagining of Igor Stravinsky’s iconic ballet in the Bharatanatyam dance style. After a critically successful tour from 2019-2022, the work was developed with an extended cast and full orchestra for a performance run on the main stage at Sadler’s Wells in 2023, which was received with tremendous critical acclaim from publications such as The Observer, The Financial Times, The Telegraph and the Times. The projection mapped immersive version featuring Seeta Patel herself has been transforming heritage sites around the country.
Seeta Patel Dance is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation, and enjoys an international presence and a strong reputation within the dance community. The Company plans to continue to extend its reach worldwide and its mission to introduce new audiences to classical and contemporary Indian dance.