Sunday Series: Nina Rajarani and Y Yadavan February 18, 2007

This workshop will focus on the company's style of choreography and composition. Nina Rajarani (Artistic Director and Choreographer) and Y Yadavan (Music Composer and Vocalist) have been working together for over five years, and this strong partnership has enabled them to create powerful new works, including "Quick", the piece that won the Place Prize 2006. The workshop participants will have an excerpt from the company's current touring work broken down and taught, taking them through the process of how the dance and the music were created. Participants will also be facilitated to create new material using techniques taught by the company.

Nina Rajarani carried out her Bharatanatyam training under Prakash Yadagudde at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s London branch, during which time she also had additional training with Chitra Visweswaran of Chennai, India, during her visits to London. Nina was awarded Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Diploma in Bharatanatyam in 1986, and in 1987 she staged her Arangetram under her guru Prakash Yadagudde. Since 1988 Nina has received training regularly in Chennai under Shanta and VP Dhananjayan. In 1989, the Arts Council of England in conjunction with ADiTi (the national organisation for South Asian Dance in the UK) awarded Nina a scholarship to undergo an intensive training period with the Dhananjayans in Chennai. Nina’s dance style today is unique in its assimilation of the best qualities from each of the different traditions followed by the gurus with whom she has trained.

Nina has also received Karnatic music vocal training under Sivasakti Sivanesan at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s London branch, and under Karpagam Balasubramanian in Chennai.

As a performer, Nina has toured extensively within the UK, in most other European countries, in India, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. She has performed as a soloist and as a duet partner with her guru Prakash Yadagudde, in addition to dance productions by her company SRISHTI.

Sunday Series workshops are £20 or free to Dance Connect members and take place at Dance City.

Official Website: http://www.dancecity.co.uk