Dance Ihayami

Founded in August 2003, Dance Ihayami is the first cross-cultural professional company of its kind in Scotland.

The company has its aesthetic roots in classical and modern South Indian dance. This type of dance is rich in a complexity of rhythm, posture, gesture, expression and is regarded as artistically demanding.

What is Dance Ihayami’s mission?

• To raise the standard of Indian dance performance
• To advance public appreciation of the beauty and importance of South Indian dance traditions, heritage and culture
• To support the development of new choreographic works with aesthetic roots in South Indian dance to enrich their national repertoire of dance
• generate new platforms for regular presentation of exciting and innovative works
• create opportunities for artists from culturally diverse communities.

Dance Ihayami, photo Jill Frasser

Artistic Director Priya Sreekumar leads the multi-national company of dancers exploring dance as a cross-cultural phenomenon. The dancers come from seven nations: an eclectic mix of backgrounds, experience and training.

What are they up to at the moment?

Dance Ihayami recently delivered a 10-week project for visually and hearing-impaired children from Donaldson’s College for the Deaf and the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh. The project was supported by the Scottish Arts Council and explored self-expression and creative potential with these children aged eight to 15 years old.

This project developed exciting and innovative new Indian dance choreographic work involving children with disabilities. The use of new technologies and digital media helped to develop awareness of different cultures. The project also explored future possibilities for the creative fusion of elements from the west and the east in the area of disability.

The new work was premiered in September 2004 and formed part of the company’s repertoire, viewed by audiences throughout Scotland, when the company toured later in the year.

For more information please contact Dance Ihayami at: e : info@danceihayami.org t : 0131 225 9399

Supported by the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council