Vidya Thirunarayan has 20 years of experience as a Bharata Natyam performer, choreographer and tutor. Highlights of her performance career include touring internationally with the Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company and performing for the first ever Dance for the Camera series on BBC television (1990-1993). Vidya had several performance commissions as Associate Artist at Swindon Dance (1992-1996) and was the first Artist-in-Residence at The Point Dance & Arts Centre, Eastleigh (1998-2000). This involved energizing the new dance venue through performance commissions, choreographic and education projects.
As Founder, and co-Artistic director of Sankalpam Dance, an international touring dance company, Vidya successfully created and toured 10 productions, including to festivals such as ‘Dance Umbrella’ and ‘Spring-loaded’. The company was a Regularly Funded Organisation of Arts Council England.
Vidya left Sankalpam in 2007 to pursue a full-time apprenticeship in Ceramics and an MA in Cultural Policy and Management. This was dove-tailed by working for Arts Council England. Vidya returned to her creative practice in 2015, energized by her dual practice in Bharatanatyam and clay and the possibilities of combining them into a cohesive performance language.
Vidya Thirunarayan
Category:
Artist
