D r. Swati Raut Performer, Choreographer, Teacher and Mentor

Transcription

1 D r. Swati Raut Performer, Choreographer, Teacher and Mentor

2 About Dr Swati Raut Dr Swati Raut, an established Bharatanatyam dance artist, choreographer, teacher and educator who has worked in the Northwest region of England for the last two decades. Her highly successful dance career began in the UK in Since then, Dr Swati Raut has not only established herself as a leading classical dance artist but has concurrently focused attention in training and developing the next generation as a young dancers and teachers. Dr Swati Raut is on the Board of Directors for Dance Manchester and is a Committee Member of the ISTD -The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing for the Classical Indian Dance Faculty. She is also a Unesco (CID- International Dance Council) approved Artiste.

3 Dance Background: In 2010 Dr Swati Raut set up her dance company and Swati Youth Dance to creatively engage & enrich communities in the Northwest of England and beyond, through educating, exploring and sharing the experiences of Indian Classical Dance. s philosophy is creation and propagation of Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam through excellence in practice and making it accessible to wider audiences and uniting communities through Indian dance and culture. Dr Swati Raut received her dance training in Bharatanatyam (Pandanallur Style) at Nrityashree, Mumbai, under the tutelage of Guru Krishnan Kutty. Her Guru is not only a well-known Kathakali dancer but also a much admired Bharatanatyam teacher who trained under the late Lakshmi Kantham of Tanjore of the Pichhaiya Pillai School. Following her Arangetram (dance graduation) in 1979, she continued to train in Bharatanatyam and also learnt Mohiniattam (another form of Indian classical dance) from Smt. Ammu Kutty. She has performed extensively in India in the eighties, both as a solo artist and in Dance Drama productions by Nrityashree. Dr Swati Raut came to the UK in 1987 to complete her Ph.D in Organic Chemistry from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. However, her interest was rooted in dance and she started to teach dance to community groups in the Northwest where she was based. In 2005 Dr Swati Raut founded Northwest Dance Alliance with few other regional dance teachers of Indian classical dance. The group now exists informally. As a performing artist, Dr Swati Raut has performed in successful dance productions such as Devi Diva and Shivoham. Dr Swati Raut is invited to perform regularly in prestigious venues such as the Nehru Centre in London, the Lowry in Salford Quays, Unity Theatre in Liverpool, Heron Theatre in Cumbria. Dr Swati Raut has worked closely as a freelance artist with the leading dance organisations such as SAA-UK, Milapfest, Surdhawani, Indian Association Manchester, Indian Association Lancaster.

4 Current Work: Teaching & Mentoring Presently Dr Swati Raut teaches Bharatanatyam to more than150 young children in the North West region through weekly and weekend classes in Salford, Wigan, Bolton, Preston, Blackpool and Liverpool. She is the Principal Teacher at Milapfest Arts School in Liverpool. Over the last two decades Swati has trained several young children in the region and many of her students have successfully passed various grades of the ISTD examinations with distinction. 4 dancers have completed their Arangetram (dance graduation) under her guidance and mentoring. Lecture-Demonstration: Dr Swati Raut is regularly invited for the lecture-demonstration nationally and internationally. Her latest lecture-demonstration was on the topic 'Bharatanatyam- the classical dance form with health benefits. It focussed on the Health Benefits of the regular and active practise of Bharatanatyam. The lecture was part of the BIDA (British International Doctors Association) 10th International congress held on 3rd & 4th November 2014 in Sri Lanka. She has been the visiting lecturer at the Liverpool Hope University on 'Dance and Cultural Identity' for the academic year and Professional Development: Swati Youth Dance set up by Dr Swati Raut has received recognition regionally and nationally through their performance at high profile events. The Youth group has been successful in their selection at the regional and national platform of U.Dance since 2012, a national programme managed by Youth Dance England. Choreographing new work: Dr Swati Raut has been choreographing new work for her company and youth group which has been performed regionally and nationally in the UK. Her latest choreographic work includes Kinkini, Basant Bells & Aadi.

5 New Choreographic work by Dr Swati Raut: Kinkini Anklets in a maze' Please view excerpts from this performance on YouTube by clicking on the link below: Kinkini - Anklets in a Maze was a site specific choreography especially created as a part of 'Something Beautiful - Combermere Abbey Commission', in 2007 supported by the Cheshire County Council. This innovative choreography involved 4 acts which were inspired by the 4 sections of the traditional English garden spaces, where each act and each garden space was unique. The last act was inspired by the Fruit tree maze. One of the acts was performed at the U.Dance in Kinkini is an excellent example of Bharatanatyam classical Indian Dance. Clad in stunning traditional costumes and jewellery, members of Swati Youth Dance carried you away to the mysteries of Indian culture. An absolute delight to watch there was a great attention to detail and a lot of intricate movement, including neck, wrists, fingers and ankles. Kinkini is a great piece the inspiration for this work was taken from the blossoming gardens of Combermere Abbey. Review by Aleksandra Svalova: Youth Dance England s National Young Dance Ambassadors Basant Bells Sounds of Spring Please view excerpts from this performance on YouTube by clicking on the link below: Inspired by Kalidasa s Ritusamharam - a medley of seasons is danced in this colourful and exuberant choreography to selected verses from Vasantham or the spring section of this most languorous text involving 4 Acts. collaborated with guest choreographer Hari Krishna, Artistic Director of indance, Toronto Canada. Music was especially commissioned to Praveen D Rao, a versatile music composer from India. Basant Bells was performed at Waterside Arts Centre in Manchester, Asian Spring at Midland Arts Centre in Birmingham promoted by Sampad and other venues including Yorkshire Sculpture Park promoted by Manasamitra.

6 A different style of choreography taking a fresh approach to directionality, level, use of arms and mudras. Some of the images of the piece were so pleasing and strong that I can still see them if I close my eyes. The experience of working with such a creative and technically astute artist like Hari Krishna will leave a lasting legacy for the young dancers and the company as a whole. Review by Bisakha Sarker for Pulse Magazine Aadi The Beginning (2014) Please view excerpts from this performance on YouTube by clicking on the link below: Choreography in Aadi weaves together the Nritta or the pure dance elements of the repertoire of Bharatanatyam. The dancers transit seamlessly through the various rhythms. Interspersed within the rhythmic passages are traditional verses to deities such as Ganesha, the elephant God, Saraswati, the goddess of Knowledge, learning, wisdom, reasoning and intellect, Vishnu, the protector who appears in a different avatara in order to protect the world from evil. Music for Aadi was composed by Praveen D Rao. collaborated with guest choreographer Shane Shambhu, Artistic Director of Altered Skin, London in this exciting new work. The rhythmic elements of the pure dance form Nritta was well woven with some traditional verses to a gamut of deities spanning from Ganesha, Saraswati, Vishnu, Siva and Guru. The poise and the coordination among the dancers was striking as they confidently danced their way through the various rhythms. Swati s interpretation of the avatars of Vishnu in the piece was commendable. Review by Rama Rangan for Pulse Magazine To book a performance, lecture-demonstration or for future collaborations: contact info@swaticance.com or the Company Manager and Advisor: Anita Srivastava anita@newdimensions-arts.com

7 Images from current productions: Basant Bells

8 Images from current productions: Aadi The Beginning

9 Photo Credits: Simon Richardson, London & K Kreatives, Liverpool