The Intercultural Institute of Comparative Music Studies is organising a masterclass with Shobana Jeyasingh on 4 and 5 November at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, thus a study project that began with Carolyn Carlson in 2009. Coordinated by Vito Di Bernardi, the project is devoted to the exploration of new languages and crossovers between the practice of traditional non-European dance and contemporary Western dance.

Shobana Jeyasingh, was born in Chennay, capital of Tamil Nadu, and has lived in London since 1981. She is an authoritative leading figure on the British contemporary dance scene. As an Anglo-Indian artist, her work has often been compared to that of Akram Khan even though her choreographies can be seen as being more in the tradition of William Forsythe’s postclassical aesthetics and the highly structured articulated formalism of Wayne McGregor. Having trained in India as a professional Bharata Natyam dancer, Shobana Jeyasingh has gradually transformed Indian classical dance into a sophisticated dynamic urbane post-modern art that also appeals to a wider public. Her collaboration with minimalist British musicians (the best example being Michael Nyman) has opened up new possibilities for Bharata Natyam, broadening its horizons and exploring unexpected new dimensions of movement.

The master class is addressed to twenty professional or semi-professional dancers with at least two years experience in a dance company. The Fondazione Giorgio Cini is offering 10 scholarships to the competition winners and a contribution to funding for a further 10 applicants.

Deadline to apply at the competition: 15 September, 2015

DOWNLOAD THE CALL FOR SCHOLARSHIPS