Mrs
Nilima Devi BCom
(Hons), MMus (Distinction)
Nilima
Devi is one of the leading exponents of Kathak dance
in the UK. She is a dancer, choreographer and teacher
from India who has firmly established a professional
reputation in the West. She has widely performed in
India, Germany, Japan and the UK as a soloist and continues
to perform new work every year.
Based
in Leicester, she is responsible for the development
of South Asian dance in the city (community), and in
schools and colleges throughout Leicestershire.
For
the past 20 years she has been working as the Artistic
Director of the Centre for Indian Classical Dance in
Leicester. Many young Kathak dancers have been trained
by her, some of whom are now themselves teachers, performers
and community dance tutors, working locally, regionally
and nationally.
The
Centre for Indian Classical Dance now acts as a resource
and research centre for South Asian dance in the United
Kingdom. The Centre only provides training to dedicated
advanced students, who would like to take up dance seriously
and see it as a long-term achievement which will provide
them with a means to contribute to the development of
South Asian dance as an art form.
In
her capacity as the part time Asian Dance Development
Officer for Leicester City Council, Nilima has developed
a consistent network of South Asian dance teaching,
whereby community dance tutors conduct classes in various
parts of Leicester, a process unique in the UK. She
also acts as an advisor, co-ordinator, supervisor, facilitator
and event organiser for South Asian dance in the city
of Leicester.
She
has choreographed many pieces of dance work, often leading
to major performances, such as Kathak Katha, The Ugly
Duckling, Triangle, Kathak Double Bill and Rainbow.
As part of the annual Leicestershire Schools Festival,
Nilima has contributed the South Asian dance input in
highly successful productions such as Aladdin, Stars
and Stripes, Dance Spectacular and a section from Rainbow
for the celebration of 20 Years of Youth Dance in Leicester.
As
part of the Diwali Millennium celebrations in Leicestershire,
Nilima devised and produced Vyom, a fascinating journey
through the Indian mythology and science of the solar
system. As part of her research project, she collaborated
in a creative process with a contemporary choreographer
to develop two solo dance pieces called Brahmari and
Against The Tide combining in an innovative way the
movement vocabulary of Kathak dance with the contemporary
language of Western dance.
More
recently, through the Year of the Artist Award, she
choreographed and performed Flaming Feet, an innovative
collaboration of Kathak and Irish dance and music, which
opened up these distinctive and rich musical and dance
traditions to a wider audience.
In
Autumn 2001, Nilima choreographed and performed her
latest new solo work entitled Katha Kahe so Kathak (Kathak
Tells a Story). This dramatic, expressive production,
tracing the evolution of Kathak through the ages and
accompanied by live classical Indian music, was premiered
at Leicester's Haymarket Theatre on 31st October 2001
and was then performed at various venues in the UK.
Another
new work called Images, using new technology, and collaborating
with jazz, Irish and Indian musicians and dance, will
be toured in June and July 2003.
Apart
from particular projects, Nilima is always engaged performing,
teaching and choreographing solo pieces for herself
and for young dancers and regularly performs for school
assemblies and for important festivals to raise awareness,
interest and appreciation for Indian classical dance.
Her annual visit to India also keeps her busy performing
and establishing further networks and contacts for international
cultural collaboration.
|
