IT has already been a big year for Huddersfield-based Balbir Singh Dance Company and the good news just keeps on coming.
The Royal Opera House has announced that this highly specialised dance company based in the town’s Byram Arcade, has been chosen as one of its partners in a new skills sharing scheme.
As partners go, they don’t really come much bigger then the Royal Opera House so this is great acknowledgement for Balbir’s work for which there has been growing recognition in recent years.
Balbir Singh Dance Company is one of three partner organisations selected from across England to take part in the first ROH Links scheme.
ROH Links is part of the broader ROH Connections scheme run by the Royal Opera House, supporting selected arts organisations by sharing knowledge, experience and skills.
What it means for Balbir Singh Dance Company is that for the next two years, it gets to work with the Royal Opera House on specific areas of the company’s development.
Artistic director Balbir Singh was born in the Punjab in India but came to England as a youngster when his father got a job in the Bradford area.
He grew up in Bradford, trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds and established his own company in 1997.
Though Balbir trained in contemporary dance he has an abiding love of Kathak, a form of dance which has been around for more than 500 years and developed in the northern part of India.
It was influenced by Kathakers who travelled the country telling stories, myths and legends through dance, poetry and music.
The Kathak dance style is characterised by its intricate hand movements and the rhythmic beating of the dancer’s feet in a style which combines precision and improvisational flair.
That flair is often in response to the skill of the musicians who accompany Kathak dancers and who have long formed an integral part of Balbir’s dance work.
His company specialises in a unique synthesis of Kathak with contemporary dance and live music, for which it is increasingly gaining an international reputation.
Earlier this year, it premiered Synchronised, a spectacular pool-based production combining synchronised swimming, dance and live music.
It was performed by a cast of over 100 at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, as part of Yorkshire’s Cultural Olympiad.
The company has just returned from performances at Tanzmesse, the international dance showcase in Germany.
Pavilion Dance South West, based in Bournemouth, and Windsor’s The Opera Group are also taking part in the first ROH Links scheme.
Tony Hall, chief executive of the Royal Opera House, said “I am delighted to be entering into this new relationship with three very different organisations.
“We firmly believe that the Royal Opera House is a resource for the nation.
“Our knowledge and experience is already widely shared; advising and supporting emerging organisations such as Ballet Black, and playing a leading role in initiatives such as the establishment of a National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills.
“With this new programme we hope we will be of real value to our new partners, and I know that we will also learn a lot from our time with them.”
Balbir Singh said: “I am really pleased to be working with the Royal Opera House on ROH Links.
“This exciting opportunity comes at a time when my work is gaining increased international recognition, with an intense period of diverse and challenging artistic activity planned for the next three years.
“As an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, the support provided by ROH will be of great benefit to BSDC’s development, and we look forward to a fruitful collaboration on this scheme.”
And many of the company’s supporters will be delighted to see it win a place in such a high profile scheme and one which should help develop still further its reputation as one of our most innovative and exciting dance companies.
