VIKRAM IYENGAR dancer, choreographer, theatre director, performing arts researcher, writer, curator, manager AA 17, Sector I Salt Lake City Calcutta 700064 India

Cell: +91 9830468110 www.vikramiyengar.in [email protected]

A dancer, choreographer, theatre director, performing arts researcher, writer, curator, and arts manager based in Calcutta, India, Vikram Iyengar is co-founder and Artistic Director of Ranan Performance Collective and initiator of The Pickle Factory – a venue for dance and movement performance. His scope of work spans practice, discourse, critique and management in the field of the performing arts. Date of Birth: 24 December 1975; Calcutta, India Qualifications University of Wales, Aberystwyth, MA in Theatre and the World, Distinction (2002) Hindu College, Delhi University, B.Sc. (H) Zoology, First Class (1997) Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad, Sangeet Prabhakar, Kathak, First Class (1995) Awards / Nominations / Fellowships Academics September 2000 Dance / Theatre 2015 2014 2009 2007 2006 2006 2003-2005 1995-1997

INLAKS Scholarship, MA in Theatre and the World, University of Wales, Aberystwyth Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from Sangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India for the field of Contemporary Dance Grantee under Arts Practice programme of India Foundation for the Arts, Bangalore An India Finalist for British Council’s Young Performing Arts Entrepreneur Award Bahudha (dance film) nominated for the Jury Prize at Dance on Camera, New York Shortlist for British Council’s Creative Future of India entrepreneurial award Best Director and Best Costume Design for Crossings at the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards, Delhi. Crossings also won Best Supporting Actress and Best Music National Junior Fellowship in the Performing Arts (Dance) from Sangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India to develop two dance and theatre projects National Scholarship to Young Workers in Cultural Fields (Kathak), Department of Culture, Ministry of HRD, Government of India

Arts Management and Advocacy 2017 Global Fellow, International Society for the Performing Arts 2013-2014 ARThink South Asia Fellowship for Arts Management Associations – a selection Associated and registered with several regional and national bodies and networks in various capacities ♦ Indian Council for Cultural Relations – the Indian agency for international cultural exchange ♦ Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi – the national academy for the performing arts

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VIKRAM IYENGAR dancer, choreographer, theatre director, performing arts researcher, writer, curator, manager AA 17, Sector I Salt Lake City Calcutta 700064 India

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Cell: +91 9830468110 www.vikramiyengar.in [email protected]

National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai – a privately-run arts centre Kathak Kendra, Delhi – the national academy of kathak dance. Ministry of Culture, Government of India. India Theatre Forum - a network focussing on advocacy and development for theatre in India Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Calcutta – regional department of the Ministry of Culture West Bengal Dance Federation, Calcutta Doordarshan, India – the national television channel India International Rural Cultural Centre, Delhi International Society for the Performing Arts, New York GATI Dance Forum, Delhi

Artistic Work and Career Highlights - Kathak Solos: Across India for public and private arts organisations and festivals. Performances in Hong Kong, Moscow, USA, UK, and Italy - With Ranan: Major festivals across India including for Kathak Mahotsav (Delhi); National Centre for the Performing Arts (Mumbai); Prithvi Theatre Festival (Mumbai); Bharat Rang Mahutsav (Delhi and elsewhere). International tours to Doha, Qatar; Paro, Bhutan; London and Aberystwyth, UK; Tbilisi, Georgia; Beirut and Tripoli, Lebanon - Independent Performer, Choreographer, Collaborator: Several projects that have toured in India, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Italy, Poland, France, Austria, the UK, South Africa, Bangladesh - Television: Recordings for Central Production Centre, New Delhi; Doordarshan, Calcutta and Delhi Production Work Concept, Direction, Choreography, Performance For Ranan January 2016 Shunya Se, a complete re-imagining of this 2003 production March 2013 Those Who Could Not Hear the Music, performance piece inspired by the life and music of Beethoven and Vikram Seth’s novel, An Equal Music May 2011 Return and Dreamed, a double bill reflecting both roots in classical dance and experimental creative processes April 2009 Equus, a dance and theatre staging of Peter Shaffer’s landmark play February 2007 Chitra, an exploration of Tagore’s verse play of the same name. Cochoreographed with Debashree Bhattacharya January 2006 Bahudha, choreography and performance with Debashree Bhattacharya in this dance film created with cinematographer Ranjan Palit. December 2005 Rangeeniyan, co-choreographed with Debashree Bhattacharya Nov 2004 & Feb 2005 Nagamandala, an interpretation of Girish Karnad’s play created with Kathak and Odissi dancers, and actors March-April 2004 Crossings, an exploration into the character of Lady Macbeth created with dancers, actresses, and a music composer / vocalist September 2003 Shunya Se, Co-choreographed with Debashree Bhattacharya and Sohini Debnath. A choreographic presentation in kathak inspired by the five elements. January 2002 Prathama, a series of Kathak duets conceived, choreographed and performed with Debashree Bhattacharya.

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VIKRAM IYENGAR dancer, choreographer, theatre director, performing arts researcher, writer, curator, manager AA 17, Sector I Salt Lake City Calcutta 700064 India

Cell: +91 9830468110 www.vikramiyengar.in [email protected]

With Anika Bendel, Stuttgart-based dancer-choreographer Co-facilitator on Imagining Improvisation, a research residency on the possible influences of ballet improvisational techniques on kathak and vice versa. Phase 1 supported by the Goethe Institut – Max Mueller Bhavan, Kolkata. Planning for the second phase is underway. (September 2016, Calcutta) With Helena Waldmann, Berlin-based director, and Ecotopia Dance, Germany Co-choreographer on Made in Bangladesh, a Germany-Bangladesh collaborative production. Nominated for the Faust Prize for Choreography – the highest performance award in Germany (December 2013 till date. Six international tours since November 2014) With Preethi Athreya, Chennai-based contemporary dancer-choreographer Collaborator and Performer in the solo Across, Not Over, choreographed by Preethi Athreya (October 2014 till date. Performances in India, Austria, the UK, South Africa) Performer in Conditions of Carriage: The Jumping Project (February 2015 till date. Performances in India and the UK) With Padmini Chettur and Preethi Athreya (Chennai, India) and David Rolland (Nantes, France) Performer in L’Etranger au Paradis Indien choreographed by Padmini Chettur, Preethi Athreya (india) and David Rolland (France) for the Bonjour India Festival in India and Namaste India Festival in France. (April 2014, November 2016 – India, France) With Richard Gough and the Centre for Performance Research, Aberystwyth Site-specific versions of The Last Supper – performances centring on the business of food and eating - 3rd Annual Surrealism Conference, West Dean College, Chichester, England (April 2003) - Fabrica Europa Festival, Florence, Italy (May 2002) - Restless Gravity International Festival, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales (October 2000) With Academy Award winning film director, Florian Gallenberger and Fanes Film, Berlin Choreographer for the film Shadows of Time (January-November 2003) With Firenza Guidi and ELAN Wales, Cardiff - Performance montages at various venues in UK, Italy and India exploring a variety of texts Sovabazar 36, with Buchner’s Woyzech. Created for the Sovabazar Rajbari, Calcutta with the support of the British Council and the Seagull Foundation for the Arts (November 2002) - H20, exploring Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Evolved with 40 performers at the ELAN Summer School in Fucecchio, Italy and situated in the ruins of a 14th century castle (July 2001) - The Cut, from Racine’s Phaedra. Created for the Restless Gravity International Performance Festival and presented at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales (October 2000) - A montage created for the opening event of the Restless Gravity International Festival. Presented at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales (October 2000) Work with several Wales-based performance companies and directors - The Celestial Horse directed by Jane Lloyd Francis of Equilibre Horse Theatre, Abercegr (August 2002) - Seapiece directed by Deborah Procter of Clear Insight Arts Association, Aberystwyth (July 2002) - Heaven on Earth choreographed by Su Chu Lu at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre (February 2001)

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VIKRAM IYENGAR dancer, choreographer, theatre director, performing arts researcher, writer, curator, manager AA 17, Sector I Salt Lake City Calcutta 700064 India

Cell: +91 9830468110 www.vikramiyengar.in [email protected]

With Anurekha Ghosh and Company, Birmingham Dancer in The Wheel choreographed by Anurekha Ghosh. Toured England during Autumn 2001. Also performed at ‘Resolution!’ in The Place Theatre, London in February 2002. At University of Wales, Aberystwyth and Aberystwyth Arts Centre, UK - Khoj/Quest, concept, direction and performer. An MA performance dissertation involving performers of Flamenco, Kathak, Ghanaian Dance, Kalariayattu, Kung Fu, Chinese Classical Dance and Kathak. Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Wales. (April 2002) - Aber-thessa-taipei-cal-peg-salis-mun, MA practical project created by the performers and facilitated by Deborah Procter for the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. (June 2001) - Digantika-Horizons, concept, direction and performer. An interaction between Kathak, Indian and western classical and contemporary music, and choral work. Created with a live choir, supported by and performed at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. (April 2001) With Smt. Rani Karnaa, Kathak guru based in Calcutta Performer, researcher, co-choreographer for several of her Kathak-based works performed across India between 1998 and 2010. Other work in India - Amader Muktadhara, co-Director with Amlan Chaudhuri. Workshop performance created with students at a Sundarbans school in response to Tagore’s play Muktadhara. Produced by Ebong Alap, Calcutta. (April 2012) - A Journey through the Epic, director of a performance event combining music, fashion, dance and the Mahabharata. Created in collaboration with Neelanjana Ghose, Tanmoy Bose and Katy Lai Roy for the Golf Green Utsav, Calcutta. (January 2011) - Raktakarabi, performer. Director Suman Mukhopadhyay’s version of the play by Rabindranath Tagore. Tritiyo Sutra Performance Company, Calcutta. (January 2007) - The Fireraisers, performer in Max Frisch’s play, directed by Phyllis Bose. Produced by The Actors Company, Calcutta (March 1999) - Pins and Needles, performer. Written and directed by Shonali Ghosh for St. James’ School, Calcutta (December 1998) - Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, performer. Pirouette Choreography Troupe, Delhi (December 1994) Management, Research, Curation 2017 (conceived 2013)

Initiator of The Pickle Factory – a venue for dance and movement practice and discourse

Since June 2004

Co-founder with Debashree Bhattacharya, and Artistic Director of Ranan Performance Collective, Calcutta

January 2015

Co-curator with Ranjana Dave for Joining the Dots, a dance conference as part of the IGNITE Festival of Contemporary Indian Dance, Delhi

July 2013

Co-curator with Madhuja Mukherjee for What Remains, an exhibition of dance artefacts, Jadavpur University School of Media, Communication and

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VIKRAM IYENGAR dancer, choreographer, theatre director, performing arts researcher, writer, curator, manager AA 17, Sector I Salt Lake City Calcutta 700064 India

Cell: +91 9830468110 www.vikramiyengar.in [email protected]

Culture, Calcutta. Hosted at the National Library Calcutta as a parallel event to the international conference, Dance Matters August 2008-June 2009

Coordinator and member of core group organising International Choreography Seminar and Workshop under aegis of Sangeet Natak Akademi and Padatik in Calcutta in May-June 2009

1992-1999

Volunteer work for SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth), Calcutta, Delhi, Chennai • 1995-1999, National Coordinator, Gurukul Scheme • 1997-1998, State Coordinator, West Bengal SPIC MACAY • 1996 & 1997, Coordinator, Chennai and Calcutta National Conventions • 1996-1997, Coordinator, SPIC MACAY, Hindu College, Delhi

Research and Writing 2009 - 2015

Co-Editor (with Joyoti Roy) of e-Rang, a web-based fortnightly theatre journal run by the India Theatre Forum

December 2013

Co-editor of the Purush Blog with Ranjana Dave, for Purush: the global dancing male, curated by Anita Ratnam for Natya Darshan, Chennai

April 2010

Blog Editor and Coordinator for The Director’s Forum – a ten-day workshop based event organised by the Centre for Performance Research, Aberystwyth • Coordinating a team of writers for the blog • Assigning, procuring and uploading daily content for the blog during the event • Writing pieces for the blog • Moderating blog conversations • Liaising with conference adminstration Part of team to research and collate material for an exhibition on Satyadev Dubey for the Prithvi Theatre Festival, Mumbai, 2008

May-July 2008 March-November 2006

Research, collation of material and content development for exhibition and yearbook on Prithviraj Kapoor’s theatre work for his centenary celebrations at Prithvi Theatre Festival, Mumbai, 2006. • Sourcing material from archives across India • Conducting and transcribing interviews with artists • Structuring the exhibition, writing and editing the text • Writing and coordinating the opening event for the festival • Writing and editing the text for the yearbook brought out in November 2007

July-August 2004

Part of team to research and collate material for an exhibition on Naya Theatre and Habib Tanvir for the Prithvi Theatre Festival, Mumbai, 2004

February-April 2003

Researcher for Cultural Ballast project, Centre for Performance Research, Aberystwyth, Wales • Research into performance companies and arts organisations in 18 port cities across the world • Establishing contact with and collecting printed, visual and video material from these companies and organisations • Preparing a profile of each city with regard to its performing arts scenario based on the material collected

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VIKRAM IYENGAR dancer, choreographer, theatre director, performing arts researcher, writer, curator, manager AA 17, Sector I Salt Lake City Calcutta 700064 India

Cell: +91 9830468110 www.vikramiyengar.in [email protected]

March 1998-September 2000

Assistant Editor, Seagull Theatre Quarterly, Calcutta • Writing and editing articles • On-site research at festivals, workshops and group bases • Coordinating and guest-editing theme issue on Drama and Formal Education

August 1997-September 2000

Assistant, Samskritiki Shreyaskar - a dance academy, Calcutta Director - Smt. Rani Karnaa • Preparing the script of various productions • Assistance in concept and choreography of productions • Research into, and documentation of, these productions

Workshops and Teaching June 2017 onwards

Guest Faculty for covering movement awareness, choreography and performance practice at the Department of Performing Arts, Presidency University, Calcutta

2006 till date

Various engagements with Jadavpur University, Calcutta including guest seminars, and faculty refresher courses. For the Department of English, Department of Comparative Literature, and School of Media, Communication and Culture.

February-May 2003

Tutor at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies, University of Wales, Aberystwyth • Module Co-ordinator for ‘Intercultural Theatre’ (MA in Theatre and the World), an optional module for students on the MA in Theatre and the World programme. Comprised 10 seminar sessions with video viewings, and watching and discussing selected productions. • Module Co-ordinator and Tutor for ‘Asian Theatre’ (3rd Year Undergraduates), an optional module for 3rd year undergraduate students of Theatre. Included 10 sessions of illustrated lectures, demonstrations and workshops. • Practical Tutor for ‘Theatre Practice’ (1st Year Undergraduates), included leading sessions on performance practice, workshops and creating a workshop piece from the impulse of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. • Seminar leader for ‘Introduction to Theatre Studies’ (1st Year Undergraduates) included leading hour long tutorial / discussion sessions with small groups of students to bolster the main lectures. Also included guiding them on preparing for and writing papers and examinations.

Some examples of workshops An Introduction to Kathak An insight into the underlying techniques and concepts of Kathak touching on both pure dance and expressional aspects. Workshops conducted at Universities of Wales and Plymouth; the Aberystwyth Arts Centre; Elemental Earth, Wales, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London; the Centre for Performance Research, Aberystwyth; International Student Drama Festival, Sheffield The Theory of Rasa An introduction and practical analysis of this theory of aesthetics from the Natyasastra. Presented at University of Wales; Edge Hill College, Ormskirk; the Centre for Performance Research, Aberystwyth.

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VIKRAM IYENGAR dancer, choreographer, theatre director, performing arts researcher, writer, curator, manager AA 17, Sector I Salt Lake City Calcutta 700064 India

Cell: +91 9830468110 www.vikramiyengar.in [email protected]

Intercultural Performance: Context, Fusion and Confusion An interactive seminar-cum-demonstration-cum-workshop on the phenomenon of Intercultural Performance concentrating on voicing and discussing views about this genre, examining questions of mis/understanding, mis/representation, authenticity and socio-cultural politics. Sessions have been presented for Edge Hill College, Ormskirk and University of Plymouth The Invisible Pulse: Rhythm and Tempo / Syllables and Silence This workshop unravels the intricate Tala (rhythm) system of Indian (mainly Hindustani) classical music and dance. Sessions have been conducted for the Aberystwyth Arts Centre; Centre for Performance Research, Aberystwyth; International Student Drama Festival, Sheffield; as part of workshops at Canterbury University and National Theatre Studio, London. Walking Tall Workshops for dancers, actors and movement artists focussing on the body awareness, isolation work, and the relationship of body, space and movement connected by underlying rhythms. Apart Workshops conducted for Ranan, the Ranan Workspace, Project Prometheus, the Centrestage Theatre Festival, Kolkata Youth Theatre Festival and Thespo India. Papers, Publications, Seminars – a selection • •

• • • •

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Article in the special issue on Contemporary Dance in India edited by Astad Deboo and Ketu Katrak. Marg Publications, Mumbai – July 2017 Papers at international dance and performance symposia including several presentations for the Departments of Comparative Literature, and English Jadavpur University; University Grants Commission Refresher Courses for teachers; India Theatre Forum seminars (Heggodu: 2008 and 2012); India in the 1940s (Shimla: 2012); World Dance Alliance conferences (Hong Kong: 2006, Singapore: 2007); Dance Matters (Jadavpur University, Calcutta, August 2006); PastMasters Conference, (Centre for Performance Research, Aberystwyth, December 2004) Prithviraj and Prithvi Theatres – research and text for a yearbook produced by Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai (November 2007) Regular arts-related articles and features for e-Rang, Sa Re Ga Ma Mag-e-zine, Hindustan Times, Kolkata, Tehelka, Delhi and several other publications and web based magazines. Theatre and Book Reviews and sundry articles for the Theatre-Wales website, for the South Asia Outreach Educational Project Newsletter of University of Chicago, USA and for TeacherTalk, Calcutta Guest Editor for the Seagull Theatre Quarterly special issue on ‘Drama and Formal Education (June 2003). Also interviews with Mahesh Dattani, Dadi Padumjee and M. K. Raina among others, and articles on other theatre-related matters Translations from Bengali to English: Mahasweta Devi’s short stories for Seagull Books (2001), and several fiction and non-fiction works with Sarmistha Dutta Gupta for The Little Magazine, Delhi and the Aman Trust, Delhi among others.

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